Georgia Tech signee Myles Autry may attempt to part ways with the school following his brother’s dismissal for a conduct code violation.
Autry, perhaps the most sought-after prospects in the Yellow Jackets’ 2014 signing class, announced on Twitter Wednesday night that he had been talking all day with his brother Anthony about whether or not to enroll at Tech. Anthony was dismissed from the team Tuesday for violating the athletic association’s student-athlete code of conduct.
The opportunity to play with his brother was a significant reason in his decision to attend Tech. In May, he told the AJC that he intended to sign with Florida State, but at the last minute switched to Tech because "I decided that I really wanted to play with my brother and makes things happen at Georgia Tech."
The tweet appeared to say that he will have his decision by Wednesday evening, but the message was truncated at the 140-character limit. It cut off what likely meant "By Tonight" at "By Toni" at the end of the tweet.
The message reiterated what he tweeted Tuesday and also told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday in a text message that he was re-considering his decision. Autry said in the text that if he were meant to be at Tech, then “God will place me there.”
Attempting to leave Tech could be a complicated matter. The school is not required to release him from his letter of intent. The penalty for attending another Division I or II institution would be to sit out one year and lose a year of eligibility.
If the two brothers were to select another FBS school together, Anthony would also have to sit out a year, his second in a row after missing the 2013 season with an ACL tear. He would have two years of eligibility remaining, although it’s conceivable he could receive an extra year of eligibility by requesting a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
Myles Autry did not report to Tech with the freshman class in June because he had not been admitted and was taking an online science class. Coach Paul Johnson said Monday at the ACC Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C., that Autry was waiting to be cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse, but that it was a matter between the clearinghouse and Norcross.
“As soon as they get that worked out, he should be cleared to play,” Johnson said.
Losing Autry would be another setback for a team that is already down to 77 scholarship players after a string of transfers, dismissals and losses of eligibility. Autry was a dynamic running back and kick returner at Norcross and was one of Tech’s most high-profile signees in recent history. Having lost A-back Robert Godhigh to graduation, the offense is looking for the sort of dynamic playmaker that Autry could be.
Of course, he could elect to stay. His connections to Tech extend beyond his brother. The potential difficulty in leaving the school could also be a factor. He said in a June interview with the AJC that he would have been happy going to Florida State, but was attracted by the challenge to help lift the Jackets.
“I’m not saying Georgia Tech’s a bad team at all,” he said. “They’ve got athletes. They’ve got mad potential.”
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