AP: Weslye Saunders’ future at South Carolina is unclear after the tight end was suspended by coach Steve Spurrier on Monday.
Spurrier said Saunders would be held out indefinitely for violating team rules — and not for any potential findings from this summer’s continuing NCAA inquiry centered around the 6-foot-6 senior. He was not at practice Monday night.
Saunders was questioned by NCAA investigators looking into possible rules violations at a party in Miami in May. Spurrier has said Saunders told the coach he’d done nothing wrong.
Saunders also was among several players Spurrier told to leave a local hotel and find other living arrangements.
“I said suspended for violation of team rules. Team rules have nothing to do with the NCAA,” Spurrier said.
Saunders has not spoken publicly this summer. Spurrier said on his radio call-in show last week that he expected the NCAA to have a ruling about the tight end’s eligibility before the Gamecocks open the season against Southern Miss on Sept. 2. (read more about the NCAA’s investigation below)