UGA: “No Eligibility Issues with Orson Charles” re: Miami Investigation

The University of Georgia has issued a statement that there are “…no issues with UGA or eligibility issues with Orson Charles.” Charles’ name came up yesterday in the Yahoo story on infractions at Miami.

Here is the full text of the statement:

“The University of Georgia is aware of the article mentioning Orson Charles and has been in communication with the NCAA. There are no issues with UGA or eligibility issues with Orson Charles. UGA will have no further contact regarding this matter.”

Charles (6-3, 241) is the no. 1 tight end for the Bulldogs.As a sophomore in 2010, he appeared in 13 games with 12 starts catching 26 passes for 422 yards and two TD’s. Charles was named All-SEC Second Team by SEC Coaches and Fourth Team by Phil Steele. He was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Miami booster Nevin Shapiro alleges that he had improper contact with Orson Charles during a recruiting visit after his junior year in high school. From Yahoo:

Allegations

• Charles visited Shapiro’s $6 million Miami Beach mansion in 2008 with his high school coach Robert Weiner and then-Hurricanes quarterback Robert Marve.

• Shapiro knowingly had impermissible contact when he gave Charles a tour of his home while pitching a potential commitment to Miami. At the time, the Hurricanes were recruiting Charles.

Corroborating accounts

• Two sources corroborated Shapiro’s account of meeting Charles and giving him a tour of his home while delivering a recruiting pitch.

In Shapiro’s words

• “Orson Charles was a tight end out of Plant City [High School] who was Robert Marve’s teammate. And because I had a real close relationship with Robert, Robert’s high school coach, Robert Weiner, came to Miami, Marve brought him to my house and he was with Orson Charles. I showed [Charles] my closet. The reason why I show all the kids my closet is because that’s where I had like 50 to 70 UM game-worn jerseys of all the best players in the last however long. That was our first visit. I saw him a second time and I think it was a Miami football camp.”