Ambles unable to redshirt


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USC Trojans wide receiver Markeith Ambles will not be able to redshirt during the 2010 season, head coach Lane Kiffin said Tuesday. Ambles has participated in three plays this season, all against Hawaii in the season opener, disqualifying him from attaining redshirt status. Ambles had no receptions and a dropped pass in the 49-36 Trojans victory over the Rainbow Warriors.

Kiffin had attempted to secure redshirt status for Ambles despite the playing time. Typically, NCAA rules prohibit a player who has participated in a game from redshirting unless they suffer a season-ending injury sometime during the first four games of the year.

The receiver did not travel with the team to Minnesota, as Kiffin believed at the time that redshirting was not out of the equation.

Ambles was ranked among the top wide receivers in the class of 2010 out of Henry County High School in McDonough, Georgia. The 6-2, 185 pound Ambles also considered the University of North Carolina, Louisiana State, Tennessee, and Auburn before ultimately committing to USC. Ambles is expected to join freshman Robert Woods and redshirt Kyle Prater in a trio of deadly receivers in USC’s 2010 recruiting class.

Ambles’ situation recalls that of USC fullback Ryan Powdrell in 2004, who participated in one play, a kickoff return, during a game against Virginia Tech. Powdrell was forced to sit out a couple games, but was still eventually granted redshirt status.