FSU football: What does waiver approval for Tez Walker mean for Darrell Jackson?

FSU football received an encouraging news on Thursday as the NCAA announced that North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker will be eligible to play for the Tar Heels this season.

Walker’s request for a waiver was previously denied, and North Carolina thought that there was a chance that the talented wide receiver would not play during the 2023 season due to the NCAA’s two-time transfer rule, which makes it difficult for undergraduates to gain immediate eligibility.

Unfortunately, Florida State junior defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. has also fell victim to this ruling. He transferred to the Seminoles this offseason to be closer to his ailing family member.

Jackson Jr. started his career with the Maryland Terrapins in 2021 then transferred to Miami in 2022. Given that his family member lived in Havana (FL), which is about 25 minutes from Tallahassee, it was a no-brainer decision for the defensive tackle to be closer to home.

Not to mention, his former high school teammate (current defensive tackle Joshua Farmer) and former high school coach (Director of Football Relations Corey Fuller) was in Tallahassee, whom he was comfortable with.

There were several individuals out there that thought the NCAA was being unfair with its ruling considering that Walker and Jackson Jr’s waivers were denied due to be closer to ailing family members.

Head football coach Mike Norvell alluded to in a recent press conference that it could be a reality that Jackson Jr. plays in the postseason. However, the approval of Walker’s waiver gives Seminole fans hope that the talented defensive tackle’s waiver could get approved sooner rather than later.

The defensive tackle position has seen above-average play this season with the help of contributors such as redshirt senior Fabien Lovett Sr., redshirt senior Braden Fiske, redshirt junior Malcolm Ray, and redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer.

When you potentially add Jackson Jr. to that mix, it could be quite terrifying for opposing offenses. Some media members even suggested in the offseason that the former Miami transfer was the best defensive tackle on the roster in terms of talent.