UNC CB Burney cleared to play Saturday

Published Oct. 26, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

North Carolina cornerback Kendric Burney has been cleared to play this weekend against William & Mary.

Burney recently completed a six-game suspension issued by the NCAA for receiving improper benefits connected to trips, but missed last weekend's loss at Miami due to what the school described as an ''unresolved issue.''

With Tuesday's announcement that Burney is cleared, the status of two players - defensive lineman Michael McAdoo and fullback Devon Ramsay - remains in question. McAdoo is the only remaining player of the 13 who missed the opener against LSU; Ramsay played the first four games before he was held out due to the investigation.

The NCAA launched an investigation in the summer focused on agent-related benefits, though it expanded to possible academic violations. Those cases were handled primarily by the school's student judicial system, though privacy laws prevent the school from discussing in detail any player's involvement in the academic review.

Burney will become the fifth to return to the game action for the Tar Heels (4-3). A sixth, tailback Ryan Houston, was cleared to return to the lineup after missing the first five games, but he might redshirt.

Three others were kicked off the team: UNC dismissed one player and two were declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA - all in connection with agent-related benefits.

In addition, the school announced three others won't play this year without specifying why.