Elam jersey could have been sold without internet sleuths

– Dallas Jackson, NationalHSFootball.com

Kenneth Stevens is the successful seller thesofasurfer on eBay. In real life he is a family friend of Elizabethtown (Kent.) John Hardin defensive tackle Matt Elam.

When those two worlds unexpectedly collided this week it made a combustible reaction.

The initial spark for the ensuing firestorm was struck by the discovery of an online auction being run by Stevens featuring a practice jersey and pair of pants worn by Elam during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. It was shut down on Tuesday after an intense, negative online reaction.

According to Stevens the decision to sell the items — or attempt to sell them — on eBay for $300 was made on his own. As was the decision to shut down the auction, which went undetected for five days prior.

Had the sale gone through earlier — with neither the media coverage nor Elam’s knowledge — it would likely not have effected the eligibility of Elam at the next level even if it would have been brought to light in the aftermath.

A request to the NCAA was returned saying as much.

“Generally speaking, if the student-athlete is not yet enrolled in college and is not yet a student-athlete at the collegiate level, this could be a violation of the preferential treatment legislation in the NCAA Division I manual for profiting off of his/her athletic reputation,” the representative said. “If the student-athlete is unaware of the jersey sale, he/she would not be held accountable and there would be no violation.”

The would-be seller told The Courier-Journal that he received the items as a gift and did not give Elam any compensation. He also said that Elam did not know that he was trying to sell the items.

“I thought I was doing him a service by showing off his name and bragging on him, but what I was doing was a disservice because people took it the wrong way,” Stevens said. “He’s a good guy. He didn’t do anything. He’s got a big heart, and he’s getting painted like he’s trying to profit. That’s not the case at all.”

Stevens said that he did not want Elam to be put in the same light as Terrelle Pryor or other players that have been linked to selling their memorabilia.

Elam is the No. 21-ranked prospect according to 247Sports – a network of websites that covers the recruitment of high school athletes – and according to the site the 6-foot-5, 372-pound prospect is deciding between Kentucky and Alabama for his college commitment.

The NCAA representative would not further comment on the Elam situation because there were unknown specifics howver the terms of the rule book read as follows: 12.1.2.1.6 Preferential Treatment, Benefits or Services. Preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual’s athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete, unless such treatment, benefits or services are specifically permitted under NCAA legislation.

Elam since been made aware of the situation he has had his equipment returned by Stevens.

Stevens’ account on eBay still has over 800 items for sale including a jersey listed as game-worn by Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell, Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason, and Nebraska receiver Kenny Bell, among others.