Gary Wellman, an All-Southern Section running back...

Gary Wellman, an All-Southern Section running back who signed a letter of intent with USC, probably cost himself a year of college athletic eligibility by dropping a science class during the spring semester this year at Westlake High School.

Wellman failed to meet the NCAA’s new academic standards for incoming freshmen (Proposition 48), which require a minimum score on either of the national aptitude tests and a minimum grade average in a core curriculum of high school courses that includes three years of English, two years of math, two years in a social science and two years in a natural or physical science.

Wellman’s score of almost 1,000 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and his 2.8 grade average were well above the minimum requirements (700 on the SAT and 2.0 on grade average), but his core curriculum fell short when he dropped a science class last spring, Westlake football Coach George Contreras said.

Wellman completed only 1 1/2 years in natural or physical science courses, Contreras said.

USC assistant football coach Frank Falks said of the 18 high school seniors signed by the Trojans last February, Wellman is the only one who definitely will not be eligible this season.

Under the NCAA’s new rules, Wellman will not lose his scholarship but will be ineligible to practice with the team for one year, including spring workouts, and will forfeit one year of eligibility.

He could retain a full four years of eligibility--but still not be eligible for a year--if he paid his own way to USC in his freshman year.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Tuesday that 397 athletes are ineligible to compete in their freshman seasons this year because of the NCAA’s new academic standards.

The number, which includes 224 football players, 120 basketball players and 53 other athletes, is expected to increase when more schools disclose their data.

Fourteen of the 47 players on the Parade magazine All-America football team are ineligible, and fifteen of the consensus top 50 basketball players failed to qualify.