Clemson, S.C. — Ray Ray McElrathbey, a running back who gained national attention two years ago for taking custody of his young brother after their parents were unable to care for him, will not play for Clemson next season, head coach Tommy Bowden said Saturday.

Bowden said McElrathbey, 21, will graduate from Clemson in August.

"Graduating in three years with all of his responsibilities will be an outstanding accomplishment," Bowden said in a news release. "Our staff will help him in his future endeavors whether it be from a football career or business career standpoint."

McElrathbey, who missed all last season after an injury in preseason practice, has not said what plans to do. Clemson athletic department spokesman Tim Bourret said McElrathbey was out of town Saturday and did not want to speak with the media until he decided what to do.

"He's not playing this spring so he can get his classes in order so he can graduate in August," Bourret said Saturday.

Clemson officials said in a news release that McElrathbey has two years' eligibility left and could play for another school or he could remain at Clemson and pursue a master's degree. His bachelor's degree is in sociology.

Rehabbing from surgery in the fall to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, McElrathbey made the academic honor roll while taking 21 hours of classes, the school said.

That's quite a turnaround for a student who was suspended from the team for at least four practices last spring because of academic concerns.

As a red-shirt freshman, McElrathbey played in all 13 games on special teams in 2006 and had six tackles.

The Atlanta native took custody of his then 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr, in 2006 and received national attention and accolades, including the Keith Jackson Award of Excellence on the ESPN College Football All-American Show and the 2006 FedEx/Football Writers Association Courage Award.

McElrathbey and Fahmarr, now 13, share an apartment off campus. The two had been living off McElrathbey's Pell grant, monthly stipend for living off campus and whatever odd jobs McElrathbey could pick up between his course work and football obligations.

Clemson applied for — and the NCAA approved — a waiver of the governing body's extra benefits rule. That allowed Clemson's coaches, staffers and their families to help the McElrathbeys with rides to and from Fahmarr's middle school.

The NCAA also agreed that Clemson could set up a trust fund that collected money from well-wishers that McElrathbey could use to raise Fahmarr.

About $50,000 was donated within the first few weeks and had nearly doubled later when trust administrators stopped making the total public at McElrathbey's request.