USC’s Walters Cleared to Play by NCAA

Shawn Walters, who a year and a week ago seemed on track to become the latest gem on USC’s glittering list of running backs, was cleared Friday to play again by the NCAA.

Walters, a senior, served a 12-game suspension for accepting money from an agent. That suspension covered this season’s first three games, then USC suspended him for one more to investigate a charge made by an anonymous phone caller who told the NCAA Walters had committed another infraction last year not covered in the first investigation.

The NCAA notified USC general counsel Bob Lane on Friday that Walters was clear to play.

“There is a lack of evidence to find a violation,” Lane said.

Walters, who hasn’t practiced for two weeks, will not dress for today’s game against California at the Coliseum but could play against Arizona next week, Coach John Robinson said.

Late Friday afternoon, Walters said he was relieved and happy, but angry as well.

“I’m concerned that someone not identifying himself can make up some story, call the NCAA and keep me out of a game,” Walters said. “I have an idea who did it, but that’s all I want to say about it now.

“The accusation was that Johnny McWilliams [last season’s senior tight end] and I accepted transportation, tickets and hotel rooms for a Charger game in San Diego last Dec. 9.

“The truth is, I not only didn’t go to that game, I have never been outside the city limits with Johnny, unless it was one of our football trips.”

He did admit to USC officials, however, that he attended a Charger game with Melvin Nunnery, his former roommate and onetime associate of agent Robert Caron. In the case that got him the 12-game suspension, Nunnery was accused of running money from Caron to Walters.

Said Lane: “We have been provided evidence that when Walters went to the Chargers’ game with Nunnery in December of 1995, Nunnery was not employed by Robert Caron. And we have no evidence Nunnery was involved with any other agent at that time.”

Walters, at 6 feet and 230 pounds, is a power back with speed. In 1994, Robinson was comparing his running style to those of NFL backs Natrone Means and Jerome Bettis.

Despite having missed the 13 games, he still is 14th on USC’s all-time rushing list with 1,855 yards. And average of 4.96 yards a carry is higher than five USC backs who rank ahead of him in total yardage.

He learned the game in Lawton, Okla., then transferred to Lamar High in Arlington, Texas, as a junior linebacker. He was switched to running back and had six 200-yard games. He gained more than 2,000 yards in each of his last two high school seasons.

He was recruited by USC’s former coach, Larry Smith, and red-shirted his first season, 1992.

Walters became recognized as one of the West’s best power backs in his sophomore season.

In his most spectacular game that season, he gained 234 yards in 31 carries at Stanford and had a 61-yard touchdown run.

His woes began after the third game last season, when Athletic Director Mike Garrett pulled him out of a practice, along with seniors Errick Herrin and Israel Ifeanyi.

Herrin and Ifeanyi were suspended four and five games, respectively, for accepting money, but Walters’ case was more serious. He was accused of accepting as much as $15,900.

He was kicked out of college football by the NCAA but that sentence was reversed after a USC appeal. The penalty became the equivalent of one full season, and he was to have been eligible to play Sept. 21 at Houston, but then the anonymous caller phoned the NCAA.