🧵 My NCAA Story 1/2
I’ve stayed quiet about my NCAA eligibility situation, but I think it’s time people hear what actually happened.
I enrolled at West Virginia University (p5) in August 2021, where I redshirted as a freshman and never played in an NCAA football game.
In the spring of 2022, I entered the transfer portal to find an opportunity where I could get on the field and earn game film.
In late August 2022, I enrolled at Hocking College with the goal of playing one JUCO season, getting film, and transferring back to Division I. Before enrolling, I was told by Hocking’s coaching staff that after one JUCO season I could transfer back to a Division I school as long as I had a 2.3 GPA and Division I offers.
I did exactly that.
I had the GPA, had multiple Division I offers, and thought I was set.
Then I found out the information I had been given was wrong.
Another major issue was the instability at Hocking. The head coach, who was also our defensive backs coach, left for another job shortly after my season. We only had about four coaches on the entire staff, and they were the people responsible for explaining NCAA eligibility and transfer rules to us. When key coaches left, there wasn’t anyone making sure we understood the NCAA’s 4-2-4 transfer rule.
I didn’t learn I needed my associate degree (AA) to transfer back to a four-year school until January 2023, when I was already enrolling early at Campbell University after taking official visits and also considering Central Michigan. By then, it was too late.
I had already committed to Campbell, but because I didn’t have my AA degree, I couldn’t transfer under the 4-2-4 rule. Instead of competing at the Division I level, I had to put everything on hold and find another junior college so I could complete the academic requirement I should have known about from the beginning.
Around that same time, Hocking also overcharged my student account. I had to pay around $10,000 out of pocket just to get my transcript released so I could move on and enroll somewhere else.
Going into 2024, my plan was to enroll and continue working toward my associate degree so I could complete the NCAA 4-2-4 requirements. I also had Division I schools—including Western Carolina University—and several HBCUs actively trying to help me get enrolled and continue my football career.
Then, in the spring of 2024, everything changed.
I was rear-ended in a serious car accident. Hit from behind while I was stopped going 0 mph
I suffered injuries that required months of physical therapy, doctor’s appointments, and rehabilitation(lumbar herniated disk / concussion /leg numbness left side of my body was weaker . I was medically restricted from football and school throughout 2024 by my doctors . I have medical documentation and doctor’s letters showing I was not cleared that entire year, and had to get cleared to return
That accident completely changed my plans. Instead of enrolling and continuing my progress, I spent all of 2024 doing therapy & recovering. That year was completely outside of my control.
Once I was medically cleared in 2025, I returned to Lackawanna College, to completed my associate degree, satisfied the NCAA 4-2-4 transfer requirements, graduated ‘26 spring, and once again earned around six committable Division I offers along with Power 4 Conference interest.
Since returning from my injury, I’ve earned:
• 3.9 /4.0 GPA every semester
• Straight A’s every semester
• 2nd Team Academic All-Conference Football
I’ve done everything the right way.
I’ve only played two seasons of college football, and both were JUCO seasons.
I’ve played zero NCAA football seasons.
I’m only 23 years old don’t turn 24 until December I’ve also spent the entire spring and summer trying to get answers directly from the NCAA. I’ve reached out myself, and multiple Division I schools have had their compliance offices trying to get clarification on my eligibility as well. Even with their help,