SEC rule change clears path for Florida WR Van Jefferson to be eligible immediately

Football

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Image Credit: The Clarion-Ledger

The seemingly endless wait to determine whether redshirt junior wide receiver Van Jefferson will be immediately eligible to play for the Florida Gators this season is nearly over. After CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reported Thursday that a resolution was expected in Jefferson’s case during the final day of the 2018 SEC spring meetings, one was formally reached on Friday.

At issue was Jefferson’s decision to transfer within the SEC and a league rule that prevents any student-athlete — regardless of whether they are an undergrad or graduate transfer — from being eligible immediately if moving within the league.

The SEC on Friday approved a rule change that allows players transferring to a school within the conference to be eligible immediately if their former school if facing NCAA sanctions.

The NCAA has already approved immediate eligibility for the other six players that left Ole Miss for other programs due to the Rebels’ two-year bowl ban and circumstances surrounding the program’s handling of the NCAA investigation into improprieties surrounding the team.

Florida had paused on sending the NCAA its waiver request for Jefferson as the issue needed to get cleaned up at the league level first. Now that the SEC rule has been amended, the Gators will likely apply for the waiver with an expectation of it being approved.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey will hold a press conference Friday afternoon at the close of the spring meetings.

This verdict does not have an impact on Ohio State redshirt sophomore transfer WR Trevon Grimes, who is seeking a hardship waiver from the NCAA in order to become eligible for UF in 2018.