Report: Florida should receive decision on Van Jefferson transfer Friday

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 appears to be near. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reports that a resolution is expected in Jefferson’s case during the final day of the 2018 SEC spring meetings on Friday.

At issue is Jefferson’s decision to transfer within the SEC and a current 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 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 has paused on sending the NCAA its waiver request for Jefferson as the issue needs to get cleaned up at the league level first. Dodd reports that Texas A&M has co-signed legislation with UF that is expected to be voted on by brass from the 14 SEC programs on Friday.

This does not mean there will ultimately be good news for the Gators as a source told Dodd the league is “split” on the transfer proposal with a vote expected “to be very close.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey will hold a press conference Friday afternoon at the close of the spring meetings, though it’s likely the league’s decision gets leaked before then.