BYU football: Cougars waiting to hear word on Kaveinga

LAS VEGAS — BYU is waiting to find out if linebacker Uona Kaveinga, a transfer from USC, will be eligible for the 2010 season.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Tuesday during Mountain West Conference media day at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas that the school has submitted a petition to the NCAA to allow Kaveinga to play right away rather than sit out and redshirt this fall.

Kaveinga transferred from USC to BYU in January and participated in spring drills. This summer, the NCAA handed down sanctions against USC. As part of those sanctions, the NCAA ruled that USC freshmen and sophomores could transfer to another schools without having to sit out one year.

BYU then filed a petition to the NCAA.

"That's in a holding pattern," Mendenhall said. "We should know by this upcoming week, prior to fall camp, if he'll be eligible or not."

After spring ball, Kaveinga considered going on a mission, but decided against it.

"He made a decision that he was going to stay whether he was eligible or not," Mendenhall said. "We're waiting now to hear if he'll be a redshirt candidate or if he'll be playing for us."

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