Immediate eligibility appeal denied for former Michigan lineman

A former Michigan lineman won’t be suiting up for the 2019 college football season. Instead, he’ll have to wait a year due to NCAA transfer rules.

Over the weekend, former Michigan and current Cincinnati lineman James Hudson tweeted out that his appeal for immediate eligibility was denied by the NCAA. He will not be eligible to participate this fall and will have to sit out a full season.

Hudson transferred from Michigan to Cincinnati and petitioned the NCAA for immediate eligibility, citing mental health as a reason behind his decision to transfer. Since Hudson did not make his situation known while in Ann Arbor, the NCAA did not grant him the opportunity to step on the field immediately.

Thank you everybody for your support. Unfortunately, things did not work out but this is not the end. Yes, it is unfair and not right but everything happens for a reason. Until next year 🏴

— James Hudson III ™ (@__BallisLife2) July 27, 2019

The NCAA’s decision alone was enough to bring Hudson’s situation into the spotlight. But his specific situation resurfaced again two weeks ago when Jim Harbaugh mentioned players potentially lying about mental health to be granted immediate eligibility.

Harbaugh didn’t mention Hudson’s name, nor did he say players were actually lying, but the two were still connected in that way.

Despite the backlash from social media regarding Hudson’s circumstances, the NCAA apparently didn’t feel pressured to budge on its initial stance. And it’ll cost the lineman the 2019 season.