NCAA denies transfer waiver for Colorado offensive lineman Tyler Brown

The NCAA has denied a transfer waiver for Colorado offensive lineman Tyler Brown, according to BuffZone’s Brian Howell. Brown came to CU from Jackson State and started his career at Louisiana, meaning this is his second time entering the transfer portal.

In March, the NCAA clarified its rule for athletes who enter the portal multiple times. Current rules say athletes can transfer one time and be eligible right away without requiring a waiver. To do so again, they’d either need a degree to become a graduate transfer or get a waiver from the NCAA to be immediately eligible.

Brown started all 13 games for Jackson State a year ago as he anchored the offensive line. He was a third team FCS All-American and was one of the Tigers players to follow coach Deion Sanders to Colorado.

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The timing of the decision comes just over a week before Colorado opens the 2023 season. The Buffaloes will take on TCU Sept. 2.

Tyler Brown’s waiver is the latest to be denied by the NCAA

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.”

The NCAA also recently denied a waiver for Arizona State wide receiver Jake Smith, who previously transferred to USC from Texas after an injury-filled stint in Austin. However, he again dealt with injuries at USC and was considered a medical non-counter. That meant he wouldn’t be able to play with the Trojans, which is why he again entered the transfer portal and moved closer to home at Arizona State.

Still, the NCAA denied his waiver, meaning he won’t be able to play this year. ESPN’s Jay Bilas strongly disagreed and called out the decision in light of some major conference realignment moves.

“This is interesting,” Bilas wrote. “Forget injuries and the NCAA changing rules after a transfer…what if USC players simply don’t want to play in the Big Ten? Isn’t such a material change in an athlete’s life worthy of a transfer? To the NCAA, it’s not. Go where you’re told, and play for free.”