CLEMSON, S.C. -- Wide receiver-outfielder Roscoe Crosby said Thursday night he would withdraw from classes at Clemson for this semester and head to the Kansas City Royals complex in Arizona to rehab his surgically repaired right elbow.

Crosby said he will return to Clemson in January to resume classes.

"I think this is the best thing to allow me to play baseball and football,'' said Crosby, a second-round draft choice of the Royals in 2001.

He talked with Clemson coach Tommy Bowden and receivers coach Rick Stockstill earlier Thursday.

"They were real supportive of my decision,'' Crosby said. "That made it easier.''

The injury, which kept Crosby from playing football this year, dated to his days as a two-sport star in high school.

In June, Crosby had what's known as "Tommy John surgery.'' Dr. James Andrews performed the operation, reattaching the ulnar collateral ligament in Crosby's elbow.

Crosby should recover completely by spring. He says he wants to be ready for professional baseball during the summer and college football come fall 2003.

He said rehabilitation is going well and he thinks it will progress more when he concentrates on it full time the next few months.

"We support Roscoe 100 percent,'' Bowden said. "We look forward to him returning in 2003.''

Crosby had to withdraw from classes by Friday for the semester not to count against his grade-point average.

Crosby thought hard about going with baseball all the way -- the Royals signed him to a $1.75 million contract and allowed him to keep his two-sport dream last summer -- but was pulled back by his love of football.

"A lot of people don't understand. They ask me why I haven't picked one sport," Crosby said. "That just shows me they don't know much about me.''

Crosby's agent, Brian Peters, said the 19-year-old has struggled with what's his best choice.

"It's been tough,'' Peters said. "But he's done well handling it.''

He injured his knee early in the 2001 season against Wofford, then while recovering from that, had his nose broken in a celebration following Clemson's 47-44 overtime win at Georgia Tech.

Crosby caught six passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in Clemson's 59-31 victory over Duke to close the regular season. He followed that up with four catches and a touchdown as the Tigers beat Louisiana Tech 49-24 in the Humanitarian Bowl.

He finished the season with 27 catches for 465 yards and four TDs.