Carl Ivey, a starting cornerback, has dropped out of the Kansas University football program, according to sources.

Ivey, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior from Killeen, Texas, is reportedly headed for Stephen F. Austin University, an NCAA Div. I-AA school in Nacogdoches, Texas.

KU football coach Mark Mangino has conceded that several players have left the program since he took over following the 2001 season, but he hasn’t named them.

Ivey started 10 of the Jayhawks’ 11 games last season, tying for the team lead with two interceptions and ranking second in pass deflections with eight. He returned a theft 22 yards for a touchdown in a 38-34 loss to Missouri. Ivey also returned an interception 31 yards for a TD in the spring game.

Ivey missed the Texas game in Austin after being suspended by interim head coach Tom Hayes for unspecified reasons.

SFA head football coach Mike Santiago would not confirm or deny that Ivey would join the Lumberjacks. Santiago did say he had talked to both Ivey and Mangino. Ivey would be eligible to play for the Lumberjacks during the 2002 season because SFA is a Div. I-AA school. Kansas is in Div. I-A.

Earlier this year, KU quarterback Mario Kinsey enrolled at Sam Houston State, a school in the same conference as Stephen F. Austin. KU dismissed Kinsey last December for violating administration policies. Kinsey has since said he plans to participate only in basketball at Sam Houston State.

Other KU scholarship players with remaining eligibility who have departed since the end of last season include:

 Nick Smith, a senior offensive lineman who started 10 of 11 games at center.

 Marshell Chiles, a sophomore running back from El Reno, Okla., who was the Jayhawks’ third-leading rusher in 2001 with 133 yards.

 Clarence Laws, a sophomore defensive end from Belle Glade, Fla., who played in three games last season.

 Jason Farley, a sophomore tight end who played in nine games and caught two passes, both in the season finale against Wyoming.

 Joey Guzman, a red-shirt freshman offensive tackle from Tulsa, Okla.