Burney out six games, Williams out four for Carolina

North Carolina football players Kendric Burney and Deunta Williams must miss competition and repay benefits as a condition of becoming eligible to play again, the NCAA decided Wednesday.

Burney, who received $1,333 in benefits, must miss six games and pay $575.19 to a charity of his choice. Williams, who received $1,426 in benefits, must miss four games and pay $450.67 to charity of his choice.

“We plan to appeal the length of the suspensions,” said Dick Baddour, UNC Director of Athletics.  “While I respect the NCAA process, I believe the penalties to be unduly harsh given the individual circumstances in these cases.”

The university declared both student-athletes ineligible for violations of NCAA agent benefits and preferential treatment rules. According to a UNC release, these benefits in part included trips to California, Atlanta and Las Vegas for Burney and two trips to California for Williams. The majority of the benefits Burney received were from an agent. The majority of Williams’ benefits were preferential treatment violations associated with visiting a former North Carolina player.