MACON – Georgia Tech defensive end Jabari Hunt-Days had his scholarship revoked after becoming academically ineligible, coach Paul Johnson said Tuesday.
Hunt-Days failed a class in the spring semester that put him behind an NCAA-instituted checkpoint that measures progress towards graduation.
Johnson said he won’t rescind a scholarship for performance-related reasons, but asserted that players still need to be held accountable on the academic end.
“You’ve got to be accountable to fulfill your end of the requirement, too,” Johnson said. “What kind of message would that send if you just let guys not be eligible and nothing changed?”
Speaking at the Peach State Pigskin Preview at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Johnson said Hunt-Days plans to practice with the team in the fall and that he will be put back on scholarship once he regains his eligibility, which could happen as early as January. A rising junior, Hunt-Days was expected to play an important role this season for the Yellow Jackets defense at the rush end position vacated by All-American Jeremiah Attaochu.
Hunt-Days' father Calvin said Tuesday that Jabari is in summer school, but that he and his wife are not paying his tuition. In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in May, Calvin Days said that he and wife Paula won't pay for him to attend Tech until he demonstrates a better attitude towards his schoolwork.
Johnson also addressed former B-back Travis Custis’ transfer to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College after originally planning to transfer to Georgia Military College. Custis also was declared academically ineligible at the end of the semester.
Johnson’s explanation for the change was that Custis had to do what was best for him, but deferred to him for further explanation. He also said that Custis told him that he wanted to return to Tech. Johnson said he thought Custis would be re-admitted to Tech if he were to take care of the issues that caused his ineligibility.
“We’d certainly like to have him back if that works out,” Johnson said. “I think he’s got a bright future.”
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