Boyd (6-2, 190), a heralded member of Middle Tennessee's 2007 signing class, will take a redshirt season in 2007-08. He was enrolled at Middle Tennessee as a part-time student in the fall but could not participate in team activities. He was granted partial eligibility by the NCAA following the fall semester and was able to begin practicing with the team while his case was being appealed by Middle Tennessee.

The NCAA informed Middle Tennessee Compliance Director Mike Moletta that Boyd had been cleared earlier this week.

"We were hoping Antwaun would be eligible by the Memphis game but the NCAA is a very thorough organization and we had to go through an appeals process," Davis said. "Mike Moletta and the Compliance Office at Middle Tennessee did an unbelievably thorough job gathering information from Antwaun's high school (Anderson High School) and coordinating this process.

"With the assistance of our compliance office as well as Antwaun doing his part, he was able to gain his eligibility."

Although Davis' initial plan was to play Boyd once he became eligible, the Blue Raider coach said the delay in the process prompted a change of heart due to the number of guaranteed remaining games on the schedule.

"Antwaun enrolled as a part-time student and he had to bring his SAT score up in order to become eligible," Davis said. "He worked hard to reach the necessary SAT score. If he was declared eligible at the end of the fall semester we would have definitely played him because you were talking 22-to-24 guaranteed games and that's more like a season.

"Could he help us right now? There's no question he could but we are guaranteed 14 games right now, and hopefully more, so I believe it is in his best interest for his career to redshirt now, dive into his academics, and continue to progress as a player in practice."

He was ranked as one of the Top 10 players in Indiana by numerous rankings and recruiting services after a stellar career at Anderson High School in Anderson, Ind. He was selected to play in the Hoosiers Reunion All-Star Classic and was a McDonald's All-American nominee.

Boyd led Anderson to a 24-2 record and a No. 3 state ranking as a junior, when he averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and he averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists as a senior.

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