STARKVILLE, Miss., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Mississippi State officials say they let the Southeastern Conference know about contacts the school had with highly regarded quarterback Cam Newton.
The school released a statement indicating it had notified conference officials of "an issue" coaches had encountered this year when Newton, a Heisman Trophy candidate now playing for Auburn, was seeking a new college after leaving Florida in 2008.
Multiple media sources have reported NCAA investigators are probing allegations that a man connected to an NFL agent had been "shopping" Newton's services to various colleges, including Mississippi State, in exchange for payments.
Newton and his father have denied the allegations.
"Mississippi State University acknowledges that it contacted the Southeastern Conference office in January of 2010 regarding an issue relating to its recruitment of Cam Newton," the statement said. "Shortly after the initial call, the SEC office requested specific information to include interviews with involved staff from MSU."
Mississippi State also said it supplied "additional information" to the SEC regarding Newton in July and that "NCAA enforcement staff became involved."
