Florida lawmakers ask NCAA president Charlie Baker to reconsider FSU transfer Darrell Jackson's eligibility

The case of Darrell Jackson down in Tallahassee has made waves within the NCAA over the past few days. Now, politics have stepped in to see what can be done for Florida State’s now-ineligible defensive line transfer.

Per Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, bi-partisan lawmakers in Florida are coming to Jackson’s defense. In a letter that was penned and released today, they petitioned that Charlier Baker, president of the NCAA, take another look at Jackson’s waiver and circumstances in order to make him eligible for this upcoming season.

A group of bi-partisan Florida lawmakers, led by Mike Waltz, sent a letter to Charlie Baker urging NCAA reconsider the eligibility of FSU’s Darrell Jackson Jr., whose waiver was denied.

Jackson started at Maryland, transferred to Miami, then FSU to be closer to his ailing mother pic.twitter.com/hVgabeCSsr

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 17, 2023

“We express concern that, during a time of unprecedented change in college sports, the organization charged with the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes would provide a ruling that is self-evidently contradictory to its own mission statement,” wrote Congressman Michael Waltz.

“This decision sends the wrong message to our student-athletes who choose to put family first when dealing with the health crisis of a loved one. We therefore urge that you reconsider Darrell’s hardship waiver,” Waltz concluded.

Jackson spent his first two seasons of college football with Maryland as well as Miami. In his 25 games as a Terrapin and Hurricane, he has posted 49 tackles and three sacks.

However, as a native of Havana, Florida, he notably transferred for a second time this past offseason. That was because of his desire to be near his mother who is currently dealing with a medical condition. That second transfer, though, especially within the ACC, has now put him in a jam with the NCAA due to their transfer rules.

These weren’t the only politicians to recently get involved in Jackson’s matter. This was their own support after Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) also wrote to Baker a few days back in hopes of getting the junior’s eligibility reconsidered.

“Strong communities are built from strong families. I commend Darrell for his decision to put family first and move home,” wrote Rubio. “The NCAA’s decision to deny Darrell’s waiver request sends a wrong message to our young adults when confronted with family health.”

This situation has been unfortunate all the way around considering the context of Jackson’s mother’s sickness. The only question now is if any of these pleas make enough of an impact on Baker and the NCAA to reexamine their original conclusion in the case.

Jackson shares reaction to the denial of his hardship waiver

Disappointing news recently came from the NCAA after they denied the hardship waiver of Darrell Jackson Jr. He is now currently ineligible to play in 2023 for his third school in as many years.

The reason Jackson came home was due to his mother, who is dealing with some health issues. She lives right outside of Tallahassee and Jackson wanted to come home to support her. While Jackson will still be able to help his mother, the NCAA deemed it was not a good enough reason.

This was a decision that hurt Jackson just less than a month from Florida State’s season opener against LSU.

“It was hurtful,” Jackson said. “I know what I came home for. I came home for my Mom. So I’m just trying to get through it and be here for my Mom. She thinks it’s her fault but it’s not. I’ll continue to be there for my Mom and see how things play out.”