Former Texas A&M; football player George Smith...

Former Texas A&M; football player George Smith said he recanted charges that former coach Jackie Sherrill paid him “hush money” to keep quiet about National Collegiate Athletic Assn. rules infractions, only after being promised more money, according to a published report.

“They promised me enough to finish my education, which is all I ever really wanted to do--$30,000. In that neighborhood,” the Dallas Morning News quoted Smith as saying in a copyright story in today’s editions.

Smith also pledged to set the record straight with the NCAA. The Morning News reported that Smith met in March with an NCAA enforcement representative for a second interview, in which Smith said he falsified his recantation.

Meanwhile, documents the university released Friday of its investigation into the matter confirmed its February finding that Smith was not paid to be quiet about alleged NCAA violations, though he was given $1,500 by Sherrill.

But The Morning News reported that sources familiar with the investigation have disclosed that:

--The NCAA has been given information confirming the newspaper report last year that Smith was improperly enrolled at Texas A&M; during the summer of 1982, before his freshman year.

--Smith’s aunt has told investigators that she heard Smith threatening to tell NCAA investigators about school rules violations if athletic department officials did not send him money.

Texas A&M; was put on probation in September for 33 rules violations and banned from postseason play in 1988.

William Mobley was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment.