It’s been a downright cruddy offseason for Cal linebacker Cecil Whiteside. Given the boot by coach Jeff Tedford in May for violating team rules only to be reinstated two months later, Whiteside won’t get an opportunity to take advantage of his second chance after all.
In announcement Tuesday, Tedford said Whiteside is academically ineligible for the 2012 season. During a Pac-12 conference call, Tedford added that Whiteside was ineligible after the spring semester and “hasn’t really been in the plans” for the team. The sophomore is still part of the team, however, and could redshirt with three years of eligibility intact.
A member of the Golden Bears’ 2010 recruiting class -- he would greyshirt that year -- Whiteside started three games in 2011 and finished tied for fourth on the team with three sacks and tied for first with two forced fumbles.
(Hat tip: Cal Sports Digest)