An NCAA ruling allowing JUCO players an additional year of eligibility opens the door for linebacker Jefferson to return to Alabama football in 2025.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia won an injunction against the NCAA to get an additional year of eligibility. On Monday, the NCAA announced a ruling that would allow any JUCO players who would have otherwise exhausted their eligibility an additional year to play.
NCAA Board votes to appeal the Diego Pavia court ruling but also grants a waiver for junior college players in a similar position as Pavia, paving the way for the extension of the careers of hundreds of former junior college players. pic.twitter.com/D4xluz9fBg
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 23, 2024
This could be big news for Alabama football in 2025 as linebacker Justin Jefferson could ultimately return to Tuscaloosa for a final season. Jefferson was Alabama’s No. 3 LB this season behind Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson. He’s started next to Campbell since Lawson’s season-ending injury against Oklahoma in Norman.
Jefferson had 52 tackles and two sacks this season and is slated to start the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan on New Year’s Eve.
Alabama recently landed a commitment from Colorado transfer LB Nikahi Hill-Green. The Tide is expected to lose Campbell to the draft and could also lose Lawson as well. Lawson was a lock to enter the draft until his knee injury against the Sooners.
If Lawson leaves, too, having a LB core of Hill-Green and Jefferson in 2025 would be big. Alabama has some talented young players like Justin Okoronkwo, but giving him another year to develop behind those two guys would be preferable.
Of course, Jefferson returning could also lead to more Transfer Portal exits for Alabama. A guy like Jeremiah Alexander, entering his fourth year in the program, is unlikely to want to sit the bench another season.
Okoronkwo is good enough to play next season and might not want to be the No. 3 guy in the rotation.
So there’s pros and cons of Jefferson’s potential return, but I think the pros outweigh the cons and would go a long way in solidfying the middle of the Tide’s 2025 defense.
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