Florida official calls out NCAA, threatens legal action over FSU DL Darrell Jackson's eligibility

North Carolina receiver Tez Walker finally received a waiver from the NCAA to play this season on Thursday. However, other college football players seeking a waiver, including Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson, remain ineligible.

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis is trying to change that.

On Friday, Patronis posted on Twitter and threatened legal action unless Darrell Jackson is made eligible by the NCAA.

“The ⁦@NCAA⁩ are a bunch of out-of-touch hypocrites. NC threatens antitrust allegations and they punted to save face on their terrible decision. #FSU’s Darrell Jackson must play NOW. We’ll take legal action soon if they don’t reverse course. #FlaPol,” Patronis posted.

Jackson started his career at Maryland, before transferring to Miami. He played in all 12 games as a sophomore at Miami, making 11 starts. He finished the year with 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, before transferring to Florida State.

As On3’s Warchant pointed out, there are similarities between the Darrell Jackson situation and Tez Walker situation.

“Like Walker, Jackson was ruled ineligible this summer because he had transferred twice as an undergraduate student. Appeals requests were denied for both players and others, causing widespread public outcry,” Ira Schoffel of Warchant wrote.

“The NCAA had been extremely liberal with granting waivers for players in those situations in recent years, but college sports’ governing body decided in January they would only be allowed under certain circumstances moving forward. A key argument from Walker, Jackson and others is that they had already transferred and enrolled at new schools before that NCAA guidance was announced.”

Mike Norvell announces postseason eligibility ‘will be a reality’ for FSU DT Darrell Jackson

Even if Darrell Jackson doesn’t get cleared to play during the 2023 regular season, he will be eligible for the postseason.

FSU head coach Mike Norvell said it “will be a reality” that Jackson is back after the regular season, per Warchant.

“Postseason will be a reality for Darrell as we get to that point,” Norvell said. “And so, you know, he’s working I’ve been really proud of him. I think he’s getting good work, he’s approaching every day the way we want him to approach it. You know, he’s getting better, he’s continuing to push. He’s trying to go in every week as if he was playing which you know, it’s hard for young man that knows that (he’s not) going to be able to get on the field on Saturday.”

Norvell really admires the way Jackson approaches practice every week and is glad he will be able to return to the field before too long.

“But still, to get their mindset and their approach that you know, this is the most important rep in my life and I think he’s doing that,” Norvell said. “You know, you see an improvement out there on the practice field and you’re just excited for what that’s going to be when he’s cleared to play.”