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• Syracuse receiver Williams quits team

  
  

  Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Syracuse University head football coach Doug Marrone said Monday that star wide receiver Mike Williams has quit the team.

  Marrone said the receiver told him of his decision on Monday. He would not elaborate on the details of the discussion.

  "Mike Williams came into me today and has quit the program," Marrone said Monday.

  "I'm not going to discuss the conversation from my end. He walked up to me and voluntarily took himself off the team." The junior wideout is tops on the 3-5 Orange with 49 receptions for 746 yards and six touchdowns this season. He is currently ranked first in the Big East in receptions per contest and receiving yardage.

  A native of Buffalo, Williams is no stranger to controversy in his brief collegiate career.

  He was suspended by Marrone, the first-year Syracuse coach, for the October 10 contest against West Virginia for a violation of team rules, and missed all of the 2008 campaign after being dismissed from school over academic dishonesty. Williams also missed the Orange's final game during his freshman season in 2006 due to academic problems.

  "There's no one individual, including myself, that is more important than the program," Marrone added Monday. "The program is heading forward." In three seasons, Williams has compiled 133 receptions for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns.

  11/02 14:28:37 ET