RB Mike Bellamy (#5) failes to make the grade, leaves Clemson.
First, it was star receiver Sammy Watkins who was arrested for possession of marijuana. Now, Clemson’s top running back prospect, Mike Bellamy, is no longer a Tiger as he has been ruled academically ineligible. The speedster announced that he will be transferring this summer with aspirations of playing football for a junior college.
Last season, Bellamy came to Clemson with great expectations, but his tenure was anything but smooth. As a true freshman, Bellamy turned heads with his lightening speed and agility. The first time he touched the ball as a Tiger he scampered for a 75-yard TD run against Troy. He was second on the team in rushing yards (343 yards) behind Andre Ellington. However, this all came to a grinding halt late in the season after coach Dabo Swinney sidelined the RB indefinitely for violating team rules making him ineligible for the 2011 ACC Championship game and the Orange Bowl.
Back in January, Swinney reinstated Bellamy with hopes that the talented back will propel Clemson to the next level come 2012. Unfortunately that idea was quickly erased as Bellamy failed to maintain his grades despite Clemson providing the necessary means for academic success. The university has a top-notch academic support program for student-athletes which includes tutors and private sessions. But that was not enough to keep Bellamy suited up.
Bellamy has yet to announce where he will attend, but rest assured, he will be playing ball this fall. Coming out of high school, Bellamy was a Parade and USA Today All-American. As a Tiger, he rushed 57 rimes for 343 yards
