South Carolina’s Byrd receives four-game suspension

First reported by 247Sports.com, and subsequently confirmed by the school, the wide receiver will be forced to serve a suspension that totals four games. In addition to the opener against East Carolina, Byrd will miss the the next three games against Georgia, Navy and Vanderbilt.

Byrd, a freshman, was found to have received impermissible benefits prior to signing with the Gamecocks. The school stated in the release that Byrd will have to repay benefits as a condition of becoming eligible to compete again, although the amount was not disclosed.

“While we respect the process, we are very disappointed for Damiere,” said Athletics Director Eric Hyman in a statement. “Damiere is an outstanding individual and has been upfront with us as to what occurred during the recruiting process. He had no idea that being part of the Student Athlete Mentoring (SAM) Foundation would in any way affect his college eligibility. We continue to support him and will carefully consider appealing this decision."

Byrd’s father is Adrian Byrd, who is listed as the director of the New Jersey chapter of S.A.M., a Delaware-based organization whose stated goal is to “provide supplementary support to high school student-athletes in both their academic and athletic endeavors.”