Five student-athletes on The Ohio State University football team have been suspended for NCAA violations, the school said Thursday in a press release.
Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor (pictured above) and Solomon Thomas will miss the first five games of the 2011 season and must repay money and benefits, the school said.
A sixth player, Jordan Whiting, must sit out the first game, the NCAA determined.
As part of the players' reinstatement:
– Pryor must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 gold pants, which were a gift from OSU, his 2008 conference championship ring and his 2009 Sportsmanship award from the Fiesta Bowl.
– Adams must repay $1,000 for selling his 2008 Big Ten title ring.
– Herron must repay $1,150 for selling his football jersey, pants and shoes and accepting discounted services.
– Posey must repay $1,250 for selling his 2008 conference championship ring and accepting discounted services.
– Solomon must repay $1,505 for selling his 2008 gold pants, his conference title ring and accepting discounted services.
– Whiting must pay $150 to a charity "for the value of services that were discounted," the press release said.
“These are significant penalties based on findings and information provided by the university,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs.
Gene Smith, associate vice president and director of athletics at Ohio State, said at a press conference that the university will do more to educate its student-athletes about the rules.
"After going through this experience," Smith said, "we will further enhance our education for all our student-athletes as we move forward.”