NCAA clears UNC's Sturdivant, Carter

Published Sep. 3, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

North Carolina linebackers Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter have been cleared to play in the 18th-ranked Tar Heels' opener against No. 21 LSU on Saturday.

Safety Deunta Williams will not play due to the ongoing NCAA investigation into the program.

The three players didn't travel with the team when it left Chapel Hill for Atlanta on Friday morning as the school conferred with the NCAA on their status. While Sturdivant and Carter will play, the university said in a statement Friday night the NCAA needed more information before ruling on Williams.

The news means the Tar Heels will be without 13 players, including at least six starters from a defense that ranked among the nation's best last season.