Status of Georgia's Green, 2 USC players undecided

COLUMBIA -- Despite increasing anxiety on both sides, there was nothing official Tuesday regarding the statuses of some of Georgia and South Carolina's key players -- those being investigated by the NCAA for various alleged infractions.

The wait continues for Bulldogs star receiver A.J. Green, as well as Gamecocks left tackle Jarriel King and cornerback Chris Culliver.

Green (Summerville) and King (Fort Dorchester) are Lowcountry natives.

Georgia's Mark Richt and USC's Steve Spurrier did send some messages, through speech and tone, during their respective news conferences in advance of Saturday's game between the teams at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Richt opened up regarding Green's status. Well, sort of. Previously, he'd consistently declined comment.

"I'd be highly disappointed if we don't hear something this week," Richt said. "I would think we will."

It's still unclear what the NCAA is looking into concerning Green. It was enough to force Georiga to hold the junior out of the team's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

One radio report that surfaced Tuesday evening said Georgia expects to hear something either today or Thursday -- and that Green will likely be cleared.

It bears mentioning, though, that South Carolina said something similar a week ago about its players under investigation, and it didn't learn their fates until an hour or so before kickoff against Southern Miss.

Nine were cleared. Two, Culliver and King, were not.

Spurrier hinted Tuesday that Culliver is expected back this week.

Culliver sat last week as the NCAA looked into an insurance policy he'd taken out to protect his draft status against injury.

The senior hinted Monday afternoon on his Facebook page that he would return after the "best conversation ever."

"We just prepare as if he may play," Spurrier said. "We think he's going to play, but we don't know for sure. In fact, we don't know if Jarriel King is going to play for sure, either."

King is still in the midst of the NCAA's probe into The Whitney Hotel.

Tight end Weslye Saunders, still suspended for violating team rules, is the only other Gamecocks player yet to be cleared in the Whitney matter.

In King's place, junior Kyle Nunn had an effort that Spurrier effusively praised on his teleconference Sunday. There's no guarantee that King would start, even if he were available.

Despite the fact that all this NCAA clutter would seem to throw the team off, Spurrier continues to be mostly dismissive about the idea of it being a distraction.

"There was a little bit (of frustration) last week, but whatever happens, happens," he said. "The NCAA runs college football. You've got to have a sheriff. They're the sheriff of all of our teams, so as coaches and administrators, we understand they do have a difficult job. We just have to wait it out and see what happens."

If Green, an All-SEC receiver, is held out again, Spurrier said it would naturally change some of the defense's coverage plans.

But he added that Georgia has more than just Green, as evidenced by the 55 points it put up against Louisiana-Lafeyette without him.

On top of that, running back Washaun Ealey and receiver Tavarres King are both expected to return this week from suspensions.

"We've got to stop their run game," Spurrier said. "They've got some other good receivers there. He's not the only one they've got."

Regardless of who is officially in play for Saturday's noon kickoff, it's now a meeting of two ranked teams. That's only the second time that's happened in the past 30 years. Georgia scooted up to 19th in the coaches poll and 22nd in the AP poll, while South Carolina entered both polls -- it's 24th in the AP, 25th in the coaches.

"I'd rather be ranked than not ranked," Spurrier said.

It's South Carolina's first time back in the polls since it was No. 21 going into the Oct. 31 game at Tennessee. That was the end of a four-week run in the polls for the 2009 Gamecocks.

Wilson update

Spurrier had already virtually ruled linebacker Shaq Wilson out of Saturday's game, but he said Tuesday there's a chance Wilson's hamstring injury could cost him the rest of the season.

Wilson has been described by defensive head coach Ellis Johnson as "the quarterback of the defense."

"I don't think he's been redshirted (at USC)," Spurrier said. "We've even tossed that around. He may not get back this year. He pulled it -- badly."

Tony Straughter and Quin Smith filled in for Wilson at "will" linebacker in the opener.