Senator Marco Rubio asks NCAA for second look at Darrell Jackson Jr. waiver

FSU football defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. received notice his NCAA waiver to play immediately at FSU after transferring from Miami got denied a few days ago.

It was the second time Jackson had transferred in as many years after beginning his college career at Maryland.

He transferred to Miami after one year at Maryland, but a chronic illness with his mother influenced him to move closer to home to help take care of her.

That was his reasoning for transferring to Miami to FSU in Tallahassee, which is less than a 30 minute drive to his mother. Jackson announced intentions to transfer to FSU in early December, which was before the NCAA decided to tighten their grip on second-time transfers.

Jackson transferred and enrolled at FSU before the NCAA decided to tighten their criteria on second-time transfers on January 11. How can they hold him accountable for a rule that wasn’t in place at the time he planned to transfer?

That’s one reason why Florida Senator Marco Rubio wrote a letter to the NCAA Wednesday expressing his disappointment and request to take a second look at the situation:

Thoughts

It’s cool for Rubio(a Florida graduate) to stand up for a FSU player under these circumstances. I’m not sure if it’ll do any good, but it’s worth a shot, as Jackson would be a vital piece to the FSU defensive line in 2023.

It would also nearly guarantee his entry into the NFL Draft next season, which could mean a high-draft grade and life changing money. Will the NCAA change course? They could easily amend the ruling and allow the players that entered the portal before the January 11th decision to play in 2023.

It would also allow them to save face and enforce the rule with the players that entered the portal after the January 11th decision.. That would be fair and the right thing to do. However, when has the NCAA done that lately?