Sophomore defensive back Jordan Carey, seen here Saturday against Idaho, was dismissed from the Oregon football program for repeated violations of team rules.
Sophomore defensive back Jordan Carey was dismissed from the Oregon football program for repeated violations of team rules, head coach Mike Bellotti said Tuesday.
The Olympia, Wash., prep star made the move from wide receiver to defensive back last week after being named the seventh receiver in a six-man rotation.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Carey saw action in two of the Ducks’ first three games this season, recording one tackle on Saturday against Idaho. He finished his Oregon career with one reception for three yards and recovered a fumble for a touchdown during last season’s 31-27 win against Michigan.
Carey’s decorated prep career culminated with him being named state player of the year by The Seattle Times during his senior year at Capital High School.
Carey is the third player Oregon has lost in the last two weeks.
Freshman fullback Jerome Johnson was ruled ineligible by the NCAA last week for undisclosed reasons, while redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny DuRocher announced his desire to transfer and was given a conditional release from the program.
“It’s the same thing we deal with every year,” Bellotti said. “Life goes on. It’s unfortunate. With Jerome Johnson, we knew there were some issues persisting and we had not counted on him fully this upcoming season. Johnny DuRocher (wanting to transfer) was a total surprise and shock and obviously an individual decision.” Belotti added that Jordan Carey’s dismissal was the result of repeated violations.
Incognito joins team
Oregon added a talented yet troubled athlete to the team on Monday with the transfer of Nebraska center Richie Incognito.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Incognito is enrolled in classes at Oregon and will start practicing with the team next week if he passes a physical, Bellotti said.
An All-Big 12 tackle last season, Incognito comes to Oregon with an unfavorable past. He has a history of violence on and off the field, including being charged with three counts of assault in February, stemming from a fight at a party. He was found guilty of one misdemeanor assault charge during a three-day June trial and paid a $500 fine.
The second charge was dismissed and he was found innocent of
the third.
Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan suspended Incognito indefinitely this season for what he called repeated violations of team rules.
NCAA rules prohibit Incognito from playing for Oregon this year, but the Glendale, Ariz., native will be eligible to play during the 2005 season if he abides by a strict set of rules and attends an anger-management course.
Incognito has one year of eligibility remaining.
“We’ve got a year before he ever sets foot on the field so I think in that time he will be held to a very strict code of conduct,” Bellotti said. “If he survives and makes it, he’ll be a good student, a good player and a good person.”
