With the college football season ready to start, elected officials across Florida continue to urge the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to grant a hardship waiver to a defensive linebacker at Florida State University.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote NCAA President Charlie Baker on the matter earlier this month.
“The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) denied a hardship waiver by Darrell Jackson, Jr., a Floridian and defensive linebacker at Florida State University, who moved home due to his mother’s health issues. The denial will require Darrell to sit out during the 2023 season,” Rubio’s office noted.
This week, U.S. Reps. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., and Michael Waltz, R-Fla., led a letter to Baker, urging him to reverse the NCAA’s decision. U.S. Reps. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., Laurel Lee, R-Fla., Cory Mills, R-Fla., Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., Darren Soto, D-Fla., Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Dan Webster, R-Fla., all signed the letter.
“We write with disappointment in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) decision to deny Darrell Jackson Jr. hardship waiver. Darrell sought a hardship waiver in order to transfer to Florida State University in order to be closer to his ailing mother,” the members of the Florida delegation wrote. “Growing up in Havana, FL a short drive from Tallahassee, Darrell attended the Gadsden County High school where he became a proficient student and athlete. Darrell first signed with the University of Maryland before transferring to the University of Miami in his home state of Florida where he started 11 games last season and had 27 tackles, 3 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. On December 7th, 2022 due to the health condition of his mother Darrell announced his intentions to transfer to Florida State University in order to be closer to his mother. Darrell officially enrolled at Florida State University on January 9th, 2023.
“As you know on January 11th, 2023 days after Darrell transferred the NCAA Division I board of directors formalized rules to significantly tighten the criteria for undergraduate students who transfer for a second time to be granted a waiver to play immediately. Given Darrell transferred before the NCAA transfer rules are disappointed with the NCAA’s decision to apply these rules ex post facto,” they added. “The NCAA’s decision to deny Darrell’s request punishes athletes for supporting their families We ask that you reconsider Darrell’s hardship wavier due to the aforementioned circumstances.”
State CFO Jimmy Patronis also wrote Baker on the matter.
“I’m writing to express my sincere disappointment in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) recent denial of Florida State University (FSU) Defensive Tackle Darrell Jackson, Jr.’s hardship waiver. As an FSU Alum, and father of two, when I came across Darrell’s story – I’ve got to admit – it got me emotional. After all, Darrell put his family first and transferred to FSU to be closer to his ailing mother,” Patronis wrote.
“Meanwhile, the NCAA blocks his ability to play the game he loves while caring for his family? It doesn’t make any sense. Why take this action? Why rob a responsible, family focused, young man of his opportunity to compete? If Darrell played, who’s the victim? What’s the NCAA protecting, exactly?” Patronis asked. “You’ve put Darrell into a lose-lose situation; I don’t think he wants to be away from his mom, and I really don’t think his mother wants her son to give up on his dreams. Only 1.6% of all NCAA football players make it to the professional level. If not reversed, this decision could destroy Darrell’s odds of playing in the NFL. It’s hard enough getting to that level. No doubt, Darrell’s been preparing most of his life to take on giant players who’d love nothing more than to put Darrell’s body on the ground – but I bet Darrell’s never faced the kind of red tape that your organization has put in front of him.
“I served in the Florida Legislature with Senator Marco Rubio, a proud Florida Gator and Miami Hurricane. The Senator is right that Darrell Jackson’s waiver request needs a second look and the denials of hardship waivers across the country that involved the need to be closer to family. Again, you can tell this issue is bigger than sports when Canes, Gators, Noles, and the entire state of Florida, come together to support Darrell and his family,” Patronis continued. “As a former governor and student-athlete yourself, I hope you reopen the hardship waiver process for Darrell Jackson, Jr., and every student-athlete whom this decision has wrongly impacted.
“In most cases, behind every great player, there was a family member supporting them. If the NCAA is going to start separating the importance of family from the game, I don’t think it’s got much of a future. You’ve got an opportunity to course correct – and be the hero in this moment. You should stop listening to whatever lawyer that’s in your office telling you that the NCAA can only survive by shutting down this young man’s dreams. It’s hogwash,” Patronis wrote in conclusion. “Bureaucracy and red tape should not hamper student-athletes from reaching their full potential. After taking a second look at his hardship waiver, I have no doubt you will determine that Darrell should be reinstated to play immediately, and I look forward to cheering him on this fall in garnet and gold.”
