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The Ohio State athletic department is checking into a report that receiver Santonio Holmes accepted payments from an agent during his last two seasons with the Buckeyes.
The story was posted by Sports Illustrated on its website yesterday. A former agent said that Holmes told him in November 2005 not to bother approaching him because he was already being paid by a different agent. Holmes, now with the New York Jets, denied the report through a team representative.
An Ohio State representative said its NCAA compliance office will check out the claim, even though there's a question that too much time may have passed for the Buckeyes to be punished anyway. In general, violations reported to the NCAA must have occurred in the past four years, but there are a few exceptions to that bylaw, including violations that show a "blatant disregard" for not allowing extra benefits.
The Sports Illustrated report details former agent Josh Luchs, who said he wanted to come clean in the first-person account. He mentions interactions with at least 30 athletes, including the day he and fellow agent Steve Feldman flew to Columbus to run into Holmes.
According to the article, "We met him outside the football building, and he said, 'Listen, I want to save you the time. We don't need to meet. I've been taking money from (an agent) the last couple years, and he's been taking care of my family, too.' "
The agent supposedly paying Holmes has not been identified.
The influence of agents in college football has become a troubling issue. At North Carolina, an assistant coach has resigned and three players have been dismissed from the team this season. Over the summer, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel took part in a conference call on the issue organized by Alabama's Nick Saban that included NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NCAA officials.
Injury updates
At midday yesterday, Tressel said he wouldn't make a call on tight end Jake Stoneburner's status for the Wisconsin game until he saw him in practice. Left guard Justin Boren had the post-practice report.
"He looked real good," Boren said. "He'll be back on Saturday. He'll be ready to go."
Stoneburner has sat out two games because of a high ankle sprain.
Right tackle J.B. Shugarts left the Indiana game because of a foot problem that has bothered him for several years, but Boren said, "I fully expect J.B. to be ready by Saturday."
Left tackle Mike Adams had to cancel an appearance at Tressel's weekly media luncheon because of a stomach ailment, but he was able to make practice. "He was a little sick, but he toughed it out, and he looked fine out there," Boren said. "I think it felt good for him to get out in the open air."
In other words, the first-string offensive line, including the tight end, was together on the practice field for the first time in three weeks.
tmay@dispatch.com
