NCAA asked Saunders about UNC's Austin

An NCAA investigator asked South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders about his friendship with University of North Carolina senior defensive tackle Marvin Austin, his online interaction with Austin via the social media site Twitter and a trip to Washington, D.C.,  according to Saunders’ father.

Barry Saunders, a metro columnist for The News & Observer, said Wednesday that Marcus Wilson, the NCAA’s assistant director in charge of agents’ activities, interviewed his son twice this summer.

Wilson, a former UNC football player, is one of seven members of the NCAA’s enforcement staff who work in the area of Agent, Gambling and Amateur Activities.

The NCAA also visited Chapel Hill this summer to interview North Carolina football players – including Austin – as part of an investigation into allegations of impermissible contact with sports agents. NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn declined to comment on Wilson’s interviews with Saunders but said Wednesday that Wilson is not involved in “an UNC investigation.”

“The NCAA does not comment on current, pending or potential investigations – including which staff members may be investigating them,” Osburn wrote in an e-mail response to the N&O.

Osburn also cited an NCAA conflict of interest policy that would prohibit Wilson’s potential involvement with the investigation at UNC. According to the text provided by the NCAA:

“Any enforcement staff member who has or had a personal relationship or institutional affiliation that reasonably would result in the appearance of prejudice should refrain from participating in any manner in the processing of the involved institution’s or individual’s infractions case.”

Rachel Newman-Baker and Chance Miller were the two NCAA investigaors who interviewed an undisclosed number of UNC players on July 12 and July 13, according to a public records request by The N&O.

The N&O has confirmed that Austin and receiver Greg Little were two of the players interviewed. Little’s father said last month that Little was asked about potential improper contact with an agent. Both Austin and Little, regular starters for the past three seasons, have been practicing with the Tar Heels’ second-team units while UNC prepares for its Sept. 4 opener against LSU.

Wilson was a reserve offensive lineman at UNC for three seasons from 2000 to 2002. In addition to Saunders, Wilson interviewed Georgia receiver A.J. Green earlier this summer, according to The Associated Press.

Saunders, who’s from Durham, was interviewed in July and again on Aug. 10, his father said. Weslye Saunders also provided bank records and phone records for the NCAA, according to Barry Saunders. The same information was requested of the UNC players, according to a public record request.

Saunders, one of the top pro tight end prospects in college football, was suspended indefinitely by South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier on Tuesday. Spurrier said the suspension was not related to the NCAA investigation.

Barry Saunders said his son is ready to hear from the NCAA about its investigation and move forward with his life.

“There’s a cloud hanging over these kids’ heads for months, allowing them to be vilified in the media, so even when they’re eventually exonerated, the perception that they did something wrong will linger,” Saunders said. “I know my son hasn’t taken anything from any agent, so I wish they’d leave him alone so he can concentrate on school and football, in that order.”