Expert: Thom Brooks - 4/7/2010

Question
A close friend of mine was a star high school football player and was rated as one of the top recruits in the nation at his position. He couldn't qualify at the school he wanted to attend out of high school so he chose to go to a JUCO instead. The JUCO he was at really ended up to be a dissaster though. They had a really good football program... he developed into an amazing player, and after two seasons he was rated as a five star recruit and the number one overall JUCO player in the nation. The problem was that he got all kinds of help on the football field, but there wasn't anybody that really worked with him in the classroom... so long story short, he didn't qualify again. He was having some personal issues going on in his life that made it difficult to really buckle down and study on his own... but that is in the past now.

Right now he was just accepted at a Division 2 program and is attending classes and is participating in spring practices and is planning to play football for them in the fall. He wants to get an education, and that is his main priority, but he also knows that at a Division 2 program like the one he's at the chances of him making it to the NFL are far less than if he were at the D-1 program he wanted to attend. I'm not sure if he just has one year left or two starting next year. He just went to the D-2 school because the coaches at the D-1 school had stopped contacting him... I'm trying to get him to look into transferring to that D-1 school this summer and playing football for them next fall. What are the rules about transferring from a D-2 program to a D-1? He has only practiced with the D-2 team... never played in a game. Does he have to sit out a year? What does he need to do?

Thank you so much for your help.

Answer
Brian, hello!

Both of the colleges will give him the NCAA's official opinion but he would have to sit out a year before being eligible to play for Div-I, if he was on the roster and enrolled. It might be that they would waive the one year sit out, if the coaches made a request.  If he has 2-3 years left, they will advise based on his official records.  

I have attached the NCAA website to review the Eligibility Rules, and the minimum grade standards that must be maintained.  Let me know what school he attends so I can follow his play!!


Take Care,

Thom Brooks
www.BrooksInsuranceSchool.com
Savannah Adult Baseball League

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Football Championships Administration

svcs/eligibility-recruiting


Eligibility Center Contact Information
NCAA Eligibility Center:
Certification Processing
P.O. Box 7136
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Package or overnight delivery:
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http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Football_Rulesadc982b5-03fb-4e27-828...

ncaa.org/library/rules/2006/2006_football_rules.pdf

Rivals.com

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The Sports Network - I-AA College Football Historical Scores -
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List of NCAA Division I Institutions: Information from Answers.com

REFEREE, the Magazine for Sports Officials


National Association of Sports Officials


 SI.com - NCAA Football