AP source: Ole Miss cornerback suspended 6 games
OXFORD, Miss. -- Mississippi cornerback Carlos Davis has been suspended for six games next season by the NCAA after playing in six games last season while academically ineligible, a person familiar with the decision said on Tuesday.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the university has not released the player's name, said the school does not expect any more penalties from the NCAA.
Davis's suspension was first reported by the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger.
A 5-foot-9, 163-pound non-scholarship player, Davis was used mostly on special teams, making seven tackles and returning four kickoffs.
Ole Miss self-reported the violation in April after being notified of the problem by the NCAA. Documents show a player -- whose name is redacted -- was initially cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center last summer, but was ruled ineligible after the ACT cancelled his scores.
The documents, which were provided to AP after a public records request, say that the ACT notified Davis' mother in August that the test scores were under evaluation, but the family did not notify Ole Miss.
According to the documents, Davis maintains that his scores were earned honestly. He had large improvements in several categories -- including 12 points in English, 10 points in reading and 12 points in science -- between his September 2011 and June 2012 tests.
Davis is expected to compete for playing time on special teams and in the secondary this season.