COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett has accused Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel and his staff of giving him cars, cash and improper benefits while he was enrolled at the University.

The school immediately denied the claims on Tuesday.

Clarett's allegations appeared in an article in ESPN The Magazine. He also claimed that it was arranged for him to receive passing grades and that he received money from boosters as well as from no-show summer jobs.

The majority of the allegations were covered as part of an NCAA investigation that found Clarett lied to investigators.

"I have read the story that appeared earlier today on ESPN.com. I can say without any reservations that all of the allegations made against me in that story are totally false," Tressel said in a statement.

"Additionally, I have spoken to Dick Tressel and the allegations directed toward him, as the mentor of our summer jobs program, also are false.

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for college athletics in general and college football in particular, and I would never do anything to tarnish the image of this great game or The Ohio State University."

It marks the first comments from Clarett in months. This spring, his emergency appeal to enter the NFL Draft was denied. He was fighting the league's eligibility rule that requires players to be three years removed from high school in order to turn pro.

Athletic director Andy Geiger also released a statement on Tuesday regarding the allegations.

"Let me remind everybody that there was an exhaustive, thorough investigation conducted by the department of athletics and the NCAA into Maurice Clarett's career at Ohio State. It was thorough. I have full confidence in coach Tressel," said Geiger. "I think he's done a marvelous job leading our program. I believe in his values. I have tremendous confidence in our compliance program and the thoroughness of our compliance program and the values orientation that we have in our program."