CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – North Carolina junior defensive end Linwan Euwell has been cleared to play on Saturday for the Tar Heels in their game at Virginia.
Euwell missed the first five games while the school worked to determine his status amid an NCAA investigation into agent-related benefits and possible academic misconduct. In addition, the school said junior safety Brian Gupton — who has also been held out of every game — won't play this season, though the school didn't specify why.
The school also said that senior cornerback Kendric Burney, who will serve the last of his six-game suspension against Virginia, still is in question for next week's game at Miami due to what the school called "an unresolved issue" connected to the NCAA probe.
In addition to Euwell, tailback Ryan Houston was cleared Thursday night to play against Virginia after sitting out the first five games.
Gupton will be the fifth player who will miss this season due to the NCAA investigation, joining defensive tackle Marvin Austin, defensive end Robert Quinn, receiver Greg Little and safety Jonathan Smith. The NCAA declared Quinn and Little "permanently ineligible" earlier this week for receiving jewelry and travel accommodations, while the school kicked Austin off the team after the NCAA offered a preliminary report that he had received between $10,000 and $13,000 in improper benefits.
The school said last week that Smith wouldn't play, though didn't specify why.
With Saturday's rulings, that leaves three players — cornerback Charles Brown, defensive end Michael McAdoo and fullback Devon Ramsay — who are awaiting word on their status. Brown and McAdoo have sat out every game, while Ramsay played the first four games before being held out last week.
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