The Official Release

OXFORD — Star recruit Jerrell Powe was denied academic eligibility by the NCAA again Tuesday, leaving the defensive tackle to wait on a decision from an NCAA review committee this week.

The NCAA declared the defensive tackle ineligible two weeks ago, citing "irregularities" in his high school transcripts. It looked at Powe's case again in the past few days after more information was supplied by his lawyers, but didn't change its initial decision to rule the former Wayne County High standout ineligible.

"There's really been no change," university attorney Lee Tyner said. "We expect to hear from the NCAA review group by Friday."

The NCAA review committee is scheduled to meet Thursday at 1 p.m. and make a decision on Powe, who is currently enrolled as a part-time student at Ole Miss.

If the NCAA review board accepts the university's appeal and rules Powe academically eligible, he will be eligible to practice and play with the football team. If the review group denies the appeal, Powe's case will move to the Chancery Court of Lafayette County on Monday.