Top-rated quarterback prospect David Cornwell of Norman (Okla.) North and his family ended their silence on Thursday over the eligibility dispute that has jeopardized the remainder of his high school football career.

Cornwell, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound Alabama and Notre Dame target, is set to appear Tuesday before the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association board of directors. Cornwell seeks a resolution to the case that revolves around fall 2011, when his family lived in Florida and he did not attend school or play football as his mother, Debbie, battled a debilitating health condition.

Next fall marks the start of the fifth school year since he began his freshman year in 2009 at Millard South in Omaha, Neb.

Oklahoma eligibility regulations prohibit such an extra period of participation "unless sufficient proof exists that circumstances arose beyond the control of the student and the student's parents" that prevented the student from completing academic work.

"We understand the OSSAA's rules," said Ron Cornwell, David's father. "We've followed those. This situation clearly qualifies. He should be eligible. We're a little confused and hurt."

The Cornwells, with an attorney present during the interview, declined Thursday to answer specifics about Debbie's health condition, other than to say it surfaced in July 2011 and lasted several months. The family told The Oklahoman last October that she suffered from a serious thyroid condition. She is healthy today.

"It was really tough to see the woman who had cared for me my whole life be sick like that," David said. "I had to help her with a lot of stuff. My dad was busy traveling with his job. The emotional toll was tremendous. Me and my dad had a lot of heart-to-heart talks through all that."