Los Angeles ? Mike Williams was shut out again.

Three months after the courts kept him out of the NFL draft, the All-American receiver had his request to rejoin top-ranked Southern California denied by the NCAA on Thursday.

“I’m glad it’s over. Now the team can move forward and I can move forward,” Williams said in a telephone interview. “I’m disappointed. I did everything asked of me. I don’t know yet what I’m going to do. I’ll just relax for the weekend and watch the game and root for my team.”

The ruling was received shortly before the Trojans boarded an airplane for Baltimore. They open defense of their national championship Saturday night against Virginia Tech at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

USC vice president and legal counsel Todd Dickey said while the ruling could be appealed, the matter was closed.

“At this point, we don’t believe it would be useful to go through those processes,” he said. “We think the NCAA has firmly made up its mind.”

Williams agreed, saying: “I’m kind of done with it right now.”

USC coach Pete Carroll made no attempt to hide his anger concerning the ruling and its timing.

“It’s very cold and insensitive for them to deny him this opportunity,” the coach said. “I’m not surprised by it, but I’m disappointed for Mike and his family. You’ll have to go and ask the NCAA for answers, how they can turn someone down who is otherwise academically eligible.”

USC had applied to the NCAA for a progress-toward-degree waiver and reinstatement of Williams’ eligibility.

Williams caught 95 passes for 1,314 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns as a sophomore last season to help the Trojans (12-1) win the national championship.