OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- The Southeastern Conference has cleared long-suffering Mississippi recruit Jerrell Powe to play this season, three years after he signed with the Rebels.
Powe will be a 21-year-old freshman when practice begins this weekend after meeting Ole Miss academic requirements and the NCAA's continuing eligibility standards.
"We are pleased that Jerrell will now become a student athlete," Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone said. "It has been a long process and it is now time to move forward."
The NCAA twice denied the Waynesboro, Miss., native's eligibility before declaring him a partial qualifier last August with the stipulation that he must complete a year of college before joining the team. Powe suffers from the learning disabilities dyslexia and attention deficit disorder which have hampered his ability to meet eligibility requirements.
He passed 24 credit hours during the last academic year and has been cleared by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive to join the team immediately.
Except for a few games at Hargrave Military Academy, the former high school all-American hasn't played football since his senior year.
"We are excited that Jerrell is getting this opportunity and will be able to join the team for preseason practice," Rebels coach Houston Nutt said.
Powe, in a statement released by the university, said he was grateful to Ole Miss and the SEC for the chance "to prove that I can succeed academically and on the football field." Until he's done that, he said he won't give interviews.
"There are other Ole Miss student athletes who are more deserving of your time and interest since they have already proven themselves," Powe said.
"My journey is just beginning."
Ole Miss freshmen report Aug. 2 and preseason practice begins Aug. 4. The Rebels open the 2008 season at home against Memphis.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa State officials say senior running back J.J. Bass is still suspended indefinitely. That's with fall practice set to begin Friday. 
