One of Canada's top U.S. college football players has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an effort to play in 2025 at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Safety Jett Elad, from Mississauga, Ont., filed his complaint in New Jersey federal district court last week over an eligibility rule stating that student-athletes must play four seasons within five years, including junior college.
Elad started his college career at Ohio in 2020-21, though he gets the first year back because it was the COVID-19-shortened season.
The Canadian then transferred to Garden City Community College in Kansas in 2022 before playing at UNLV the past years. Rutgers announced in January that Elad planned to transfer to the school in Piscataway, N.J. It would be a step up to one of the NCAA's four power conferences for Elad, a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy as top Canadian in the NCAA the past two years.
"The eligibility rule at issue is unlawful because it has substantial anticompetitive
effects on two-year or junior colleges and universities that are excluded from NCAA membership," states the lawsuit, which Sportsnet has reviewed.
"... This five-year period includes time spent at a two-year or junior college. The effect of this rule (the “Five-Year Rule”) is to discourage student-athletes from attending junior college to prepare for four-year college and to punish those who do so, even though junior colleges may provide such student-athletes with necessary academic and other opportunities. And just as the student-athletes are deprived of the junior-college experience that may so benefit them, the junior colleges are deprived of elite athletes, reducing their ability to compete with NCAA schools."
The lawsuit goes on to state the NCAA's current decision will "permanently deprive (Elad) of a once-in-a-lifetime name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) contract worth approximately $500,000 and the opportunity to enhance his career and reputation by playing another year of Division I football."
The reported $500,000 figure is hundreds of thousands of dollars more than a starting Canadian defensive back would make in the CFL.
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, speaking at a press conference ahead of spring practice on Monday, declined to comment on the specifics of Elad's case.
"I hope it works out because Jett is a good player and cultural fit," he said.
Later, Schiano added: "(Elad is) a really good player. Glad he's here."
The NCAA released a statement to Law360 last week when asked about Elad's case.
"The NCAA stands by its eligibility rules, including the five-year rule, which enable student-athletes and schools to have fair competition and ensure broad access to the unique and life-changing opportunity to be a student-athlete," the NCAA said. "The NCAA is making changes to modernize college sports but attempts to alter the enforcement of foundational eligibility rules — approved and supported by membership leaders — makes a shifting environment even more unsettled."
The NCAA has faced numerous lawsuits in recent years over eligibility rules.
Elad's complaint includes a reference to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who was granted a preliminary injunction by a Tennessee court allowing him to play in 2025. Pavia played the last three years at Vanderbilt after starting his post-secondary career at junior college.
Elad's case is scheduled for a hearing on April 3.
Rutgers had seven Canadians on its roster in 2024. The Big Ten squad went 7-5 in the regular season before losing 44-41 to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl.
Rutgers is scheduled to open the 2025 season on Aug. 28 against Elad's old Ohio squad in New Jersey.
Elad was an honourable mention Mountain West Conference all-star last season at UNLV. He posted a career-high 84 tackles in 14 games, along with one sack and one interception. Elad had 11 tackles and a fumble recovery in UNLV's win over California in the LA Bowl to cap the season.
UNLV finished 10-2 in the regular season, falling one win short of the College Football Playoff after losing to favoured Boise State in the Mountain West final.
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