ONLY ON 3: Alfy Hill enrolls at ECU

SHALLOTTE, NC (WWAY) — Linebacker Alfy Hill has enrolled at East Carolina less than a week after he was ruled an academic nonqualifier at Alabama. Alabama had said the NCAA’s eligibility clearinghouse didn’t accept certain classes Hill took as core courses for certification. East Carolina says Hill’s high school is working with the NCAA to appeal the decision, though Hill will likely sit out this season.

Hill played at West Brunswick, located near the state’s southeast coastline. He was a four-star prospect on Scout.com and was the first player from North Carolina to sign with the Crimson Tide since the 1980s.

“The (NCAA) Eligibility Center has declined to accept certain courses taken at Alfy Hill’s high school as core courses for use in certification,” Alabama compliance director Mike Ward said in a statement. “This has resulted in Alfy being deemed a non-qualifier. We will continue to assist the high school in their efforts to have the course re-evaluated by the eligibility center.”

Tuesday the former West Brunswick Trojan told WWAY he’ll be attending East Carolina University this fall.

“All of this happened really fast when I found out that I wouldn’t be able to play football at the University of Alabama,” Hill said. “Someone gave me a phone call. They asked me if I was interested in ECU. I said I’d take a look.”

But Hill says he will not be able to play football at East Carolina this year. He plans to be back on the field for the 2011 season.

“I sat out my 10th grade year, so I know what it feels like,” Hill said. “This will be different, though, because it’s college, but I plan to get better, faster, stronger in order to be ready for 2011.”

While Hill looks forward to next year, it means he will not get to play this year for the defending national champion Crimson Tide.

“They told me I was going to start on special teams, and I’d get in on other plays as well, but that’s over with now,” Hill said. “I have to go work on my new stuff.”

The Coach’s Corner will air even more of Hill’s interview Sunday morning on WWAY at 11:30 a.m. West Brunswick football coach Jimmy Fletcher will detail the specifics of the case on the Coach’s Corner as well.