CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina is vacating former receiver Hakeem Nicks' statistics from 2008 because he was ineligible that season.

Team spokesman Kevin Best said Friday that Nicks' records and stats from that year will remain in the media guide but be noted with an asterisk.

Best did not give a reason why, though privacy laws prevent the school from discussing in detail any player's involvement in the NCAA's review of academic misconduct in the football program.

The News & Observer of Raleigh first reported Nicks' ineligibility.

Nicks benefited from "academic fraud" by receiving improper academic help in 2008 from a tutor implicated in the scandal at UNC, the newspaper reported.

Nicks, now with the NFL's New York Giants, holds the Tar Heels' record for career receiving touchdowns with 21, and TDs in a season with 12 in 2008. He also holds records for receiving yards in a career with 2,840, in a season with 1,222 in 2008, as well as the career receptions record with 181 and season record with 74 in 2007.

UNC vacated its wins and statistics for ineligible players from 2008-09 after the NCAA's investigation into improper benefits and academic misconduct.

The asterisk next to Nicks' name will refer to a note that says "participation later vacated due to NCAA penalty," the News and Observer reported.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.