The NCAA ruling was received just prior to the
Trojans boarding an airplane in route to Baltimore. The Trojans open the
season Saturday night against Virginia Tech.
"I'm glad it's over," Williams was
quoted as saying, "now I can move forward." Spokesman from
the university stated it is unlikely the school would appeal the ruling.
USC coach Pete Carroll was angered by the
ruling. "I'm not surprised by it, but
I'm disappointed. You'll have to
ask the NCAA..how they can turn someone down who is otherwise academically
eligible."
Williams caught 95 passes for 1,314 yards and a
school-record 16 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. After a court originally
ruled that last February that Ohio State's Maurice Clarett was eligible to play
in the NFL, Williams hired an agent and said he was turning pro.
But on May 24, an appeals court overturned the
earlier ruling and upheld the NFL's right to bar players who had been out of
high school for less than three years.
Williams options are limited now; there is the possibility
of playing pro-football in Canada or possibly applying to an NAIA school to play
college ball this fall. Williams could also wait it out and apply for the
NFL Draft in April of 2005.