We’re told that Austin has been accepting money and other extra benefits, including trips to Miami and his hometown to Washington, D.C., for quite some time and has been in cahoots with South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders, his good friend, as far as comparing notes on what inducements can be gained from agent and financial advisor interaction.
As we’ve reported previously, sources close to the UNC athletic department expect Austin to ultimately be suspended for the entire season.
We’ve also been told that Austin has been laying low since the investigation began and hasn’t been attending workouts.
An Alabama newspaper is reporting that Austin paid for Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus to attend the South Beach party. Alabama has suspended Dareus pending an NCAA investigation.
We’ve also been told that Saunders is extremely concerned about being implicated by the NCAA if they see his text messages.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Tar Heels cornerback Charles Brown has asked more than one agent for money directly.
According to the agent who said he was solicited, the request was flatly denied.
We’ve also been told that Tar Heels cornerback Kendric Burney was flown to Atlanta recently to meet with two agents.
Burney and Brown are both advised by former Tar Heels cornerback Chris Hawkins, who has emerged as a central figure in the investigation.
