UTSA鈥檚 Jimmori Robinson celebrates a sack during the second half of an NCAA football game against Kennesaw State on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in San Antonio.
UTSA鈥檚 Jimmori Robinson celebrates a sack during the second half of an NCAA football game against Kennesaw State on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in San Antonio.
MORGANTOWN 鈥 West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez admits he鈥檚 frustrated.
That frustration has nothing to do with the effort or performance by the Mountainers' players or coaches through the early days of preseason camp. Instead, his frustration is in regard to those who have not yet been able to join 性视界传媒's practice sessions, as they await approval on their eligibility.
Defensive end Jimmori Robinson, safety Justin Harrington, running back Tye Edwards and wide receiver Jeff Weimer each transferred to 性视界传媒 this year with hopes of playing for the Mountaineers in their final college season. All four began their post-high school careers by spending multiple years in the junior college ranks before moving on to Division I schools. Each of them wants to take advantage of the court ruling last fall that granted former junior college quarterback Diego Pavia additional eligibility at Vanderbilt, thus not counting his time in junior college against his Division I eligibility clock.
Robinson, Harrington, Edwards and Weimer are hoping to also have their juco years wiped away from their D-I eligibility clock, but to this point, they are still waiting on the sidelines. They can only work out on their own right now and cannot participate in any of 性视界传媒's practices.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing yet,鈥 Rodriguez said Saturday when asked if there was any eligibility news on the four. 鈥淚t can be frustrating. I saw the other day where somebody got eligible. We鈥檒l see where this goes.鈥
If their eligibility waivers are denied by the NCAA, many athletes have taken their appeals to the courts. That鈥檚 a possibility for the four Mountaineers as well.
鈥淚t seems like the [national] decisions that have been announced the last few weeks have been through whatever court they went through,鈥 性视界传媒鈥檚 coach said. 鈥淎 lot of that is obviously out of the players鈥 hands and our hands.
鈥淭his process takes a little longer than everybody wants.鈥
If eligible, each of the four could be significant factors for the Mountaineers, but at this point, their status is still uncertain.
鈥淲e have to have a plan,鈥 Rodriguez said. 鈥淲e have to have a plan if all is good and they can play. If they can鈥檛 play, does that mean we have to go find another guy [through the portal] or get someone else ready? We can鈥檛 put our head in the sand. We have to be ready for either outcome.鈥
