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Welcome back to the Tigers Football Insider, where we bring you the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s college football reporters each week.
Just a few months ago, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the NCAA would approve a one-time transfer waiver for athletes.
This would allow them to transfer once without having to sit out a year. It was legislation that was long overdue and the NCAA Division I Council was expected to approve it this month.
However, it’s never that simple with the NCAA. The Council voted on Monday to delay the vote on transfers, as well as athletes’ ability to make money from their names, likenesses and image rights.
The NCAA has been working with the Justice Department to sort out these issues, and the delay stems from concerns between NCAA president Mark Emmert and Justice Department antitrust division leader Makan Delrahim.
There are a litany of issues to work out, according to this USA Today story. How does this affect Memphis, though?
The Tigers have been among the most active teams in the country at acquiring transfers. They brought in Arizona quarterback Grant Gunnell, Arkansas wide receiver Shamar Nash and Michigan State’s Devontae Dobbs and Julian Barnett in the past month or so.
In regards to Gunnell and Dobbs, it would be massive to have them available to play in 2021. Record-setting quarterback Brady White is departing, and left tackle Obinna Eze is transferring to TCU.
Barnett and Nash are both former four-star recruits and provide juice to the secondary and receiver groups, respectively.
How concerned should Memphis fans be? That remains to be seen. The NCAA is still under extreme pressure to get both measures approved, as states such as Florida have already approved legislation that will enhance opportunities for athletes to capitalize on their names and image rights.
There still seems to be a commitment to get both done, though there is no time set for another vote. If the vote falls through, then Memphis will need to apply for more traditional hardship waivers to get any of its transfers eligible this year.
It’s uncomfortable, but the balance of the 2021 season could be decided by the NCAA before fall camp even starts.
More from Your Insider:
Eze will be able to play immediately at the Power Five school as a grad transfer.
Nehemiah Augustus will transfer after not playing this season.
A key defensive player, Carter is the second big name to leave the Tigers within the past week.
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