San Diego Chargers rookie Cam Thomas Wednesday found himself in the middle of the NCAA’s investigation of the UNC football program.

In a story titled “Trip Paid for, ex-Tar Heel says,” the Raleigh News & Observer quoted Thomas, a North Moore graduate from Eagle Springs, as saying a former teammate paid for a trip he and another former teammate, Marvin Austin, took to a California training facility prior to the 2009 season.

“’Twan paid for it,” the newspaper quoted Thomas as saying, evidently referring to third-year San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, Thomas’ former teammate on the Tar Heels’ defensive line.

The revelation, if confirmed by investigators, could indicate a violation of the NCAA’s “preferential treatment” bylaw, which could retroactively threaten both players’ eligibility for the 2009 season, as well as the 2010 eligibility of Austin, who is projected to be a high draft pick following the season.

Thomas started all 13 games for the Tar Heels in 2009 and was a fifth-round NFL Draft pick of the Chargers following the season. He’s currently participating in the Chargers’ preseason training camp.

He told the newspaper that he and Austin took the trip to work out at Proactive Sports Performance in Westlake Village, Calif., in order to prepare for the 2009 season. He did not provide dates or financial details for the trip.

Balmer is a former first-round draft pick of the 49ers in 2008. He, Thomas and Austin were teammates on the UNC defensive line during the 2007 season.

The NCAA has been investigating UNC’s football program since early July, an investigation that had zeroed in on Austin and wide receiver Greg Little until Thomas found himself in the crosshairs.