John Blake, associate UNC coach, he of the abrupt resignation and ensuing embarrassing links to NFL agent Gary Wichard, is back in the news again, and this time we've got specifics: Among the players he contacted during his time at North Carolina on behalf of a pro football agent was none other than star Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, the 2009 BCS title game MVP who was hit with an early-season suspension for agent contact.
UNC’s John Blake Contacted Other Schools’ Players To Shill For Agent
Yahoo! Sports has the juicy, gory details:
Dareus, who was the defensive most valuable player in the 2010 BCS title game, was suspended by the NCAA for the first two games of this season for receiving improper benefits from agents during offseason trips to Miami. It was during that investigation, the sources said, that Dareus told NCAA investigators Blake had spoken to him about Wichard.
The sources said Dareus was extremely cooperative while describing his relationship with Blake to investigators, explaining that the former Tar Heels assistant recruited him while he was starring at Birmingham’s Huffman High School. The sources said Dareus told NCAA investigators that Blake had maintained contact with him since that recruitment, and that during the summer Blake called both Dareus and Dareus’ friend, South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders, to suggest they sign with Wichard. Both Dareus and Saunders were considered potential first-round picks entering this season.
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