BC-FBC--Michigan-NCAA, 3rd Ld-Writethru,200

Michigan football players may have violated rule

Eds: Updates with Notre Dame possibly violating same NCAA rule.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan's football program might have violated a secondary NCAA rule.

Spokesman Justin Dickens confirmed Wednesday that the school's compliance department has been notified a rule may have been broken by receiver Roy Roundtree and linebacker Kenny Demens. The two posted messages on their Twitter accounts to congratulate a recruit.

Roundtree and Demens tweeted to linebacker Mike McCray of Trotwood-Madison High School in Ohio after the highly touted prospect decided to play for the Wolverines. NCAA rules prohibit messages being sent to recruits through social media from accounts affiliated with someone from the school.

The NCAA declined comment and athletic director Dave Brandon did not immediately return a message.

Notre Dame had a similar issue recently. Fighting Irish tight end Tyler Eifert posted a message on his Twitter account toward a recruit before he visited campus, the South Bend Tribune reported on Saturday. A Notre Dame spokesman told the newspaper that the school was aware of the tweet and had forwarded it to its compliance office.

Michigan put itself on two years of probation in May 2010 for four major violations related to practice and training rules under former coach Rich Rodriguez. The NCAA added a third year of probation. .