College football: Janzon a Trojan ... for now

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Martin Janzon, a former Orange Coast College standout

linebacker, received hope in his quest to be reinstated by the NCAA when

he joined the USC football team for practice Monday.

He was cleared to practice, but not officially reinstated to play for

the Trojans this season.

Published reports Monday indicated Janzon was cleared by the NCAA to

play this season. But USC Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone

confirmed Janzon was cleared to practice while the NCAA continues to

review his eligibility.

Janzon had his scholarship rescinded in June because he did not meet

NCAA Division I eligibility requirements.

Janzon, a 25-year-old who earned JC All-American status and was a

first-team all-conference player last season, apparently used up his

eligibility when he played club football in Sweden and then played two

years at OCC. He also might have violated NCAA amateurism rules. Janzon

and USC, however, appealed the decision.

Currently, Janzon is listed on the Trojans’ roster on the school’s

athletics Web site. There is also a profile of Janzon, which states he

played for the Swedish national football team.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker satisfied NCAA academic guidelines.

He earned a 3.64 GPA while at OCC, where he also posted 139 tackles last fall, the school’s seventh-highest single-season total.