Deion Sanders on Tyler Brown ruling: 'It don't make sense'

Colorado coach Deion Sanders is the latest to blast the NCAA over its decision-making process when it comes to granting student-athletes who have transferred more than once a waiver for immediate eligibility, particularly over the Tyler Brown ruling.

The Buffaloes found out recently that Brown, an offensive lineman, was not granted such a waiver, meaning he won’t be able to play until 2024.

“It don’t make sense,” Sanders said during his Tuesday press conference. “Some things just don’t make sense. You say you really care about mental health, but when you have someone really dealing with mental health, there’s a problem. Then, ostracizing him and not allowing him to do what he’s blessed and gifted to do and the thing that presents him peace, that’s trying for a young man.”

The NCAA clarified its policy on multiple transfers earlier in the year, noting it was going to begin enforcing the rule that players must sit a year in residence upon a second transfer.

The only exceptions would be circumstances that the NCAA rule are worthy of an eligibility waiver or if a student-athlete gets a degree and opts to transfer as a graduate transfer.

Brown transferred to Colorado from Jackson State, detailing some mental health issues he’s battled that football has helped him through as part of his appeal to the NCAA on an immediate eligibility waiver.

The Tyler Brown ruling is just the latest in the NCAA’s newly enforced standards, which are more rigid than they have been in recent years.

The NCAA denied multiple waivers before Brown’s, some of which have been the subject of criticism. North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker and Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson also had their waivers denied, drawing pushback from many around college football.

“I’ve always said the NCAA needs a vice president of common sense because the VP of common sense could look at these situations and go, ‘If we did this, would anybody care if we didn’t follow the exact letter of the rule? Because if we follow the exact letter of the rule, we’re gonna look like a bunch of jerks. So instead of that, maybe we just let this one go,’” On3’s Andy Staples said. “But that never happens at the NCAA and you get situations like this.”

Sanders wasn’t done ripping the NCAA, offering one last parting shot at the Tyler Brown ruling.

“It’s like, wow, do you really care, or are you just saying you care?” Sanders said. “Are you caring when it’s convenient? Or when it’s profitable?”