NCAA probes UT recruit's amateur status

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The amateur status of Tennessee tailback Bryce Brown is being investigated by the NCAA, Coach Lane Kiffin says.

The collegiate governing body questions the money raised for Brown and other players to attend football camps while he was a sophomore at Wichita (Kan.) East High School.

The freshman's eligibility for UT's Sept. 5 season-opener against Western Kentucky is unclear.

"They can rule whenever they want," Kiffin told reporters Tuesday. "I think it's a gigantic distraction.

"Bryce was the No. 1 recruit in the country earlier this year. They just want to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. That's not a problem. If the NCAA comes, then I'll give them any information they want that's available."

Brown, a Wichita native, also was recruited by several other schools while in high school.