Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean has taken legal action to challenge the NCAA's decision regarding his college eligibility. Fourqurean, who played two seasons at Division II program Grand Valley State before transferring to Wisconsin, believes those seasons should not count against his eligibility.
After completing his senior season at Wisconsin last fall, Fourqurean filed a brief in support of his case in U.S. District Court in Madison, Wisconsin. He pursued legal action after the NCAA denied his waiver request for an additional year of eligibility.
Fourqurean's case follows a recent ruling that granted Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia an extra year of eligibility after spending time at a junior college. The NCAA is appealing the Pavia decision but has issued a waiver allowing athletes who played at non-NCAA schools for more than one year to compete for an additional year if their eligibility would otherwise end in 2024-25.
Fourqurean enrolled at Grand Valley State in 2020, where his playing time was impacted by the pandemic-related season cancellation. He played at Grand Valley State in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to Wisconsin in 2023.
If Fourqurean is not granted additional eligibility, he would need to declare for the NFL draft by Feb. 7 to continue his football career. His complaint highlights disparities in eligibility rules between Division I and Division II players, noting that Division II athletes were not granted extra eligibility due to the pandemic-shortened season in 2020.
The complaint also argues that the NCAA's limitations on name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for Division II players are unfair. Fourqurean's legal challenge alleges that the NCAA's actions violate the Sherman Antitrust Act by denying him a waiver and restricting his ability to benefit from NIL opportunities based on his prior Division II attendance.
Furthermore, the complaint asserts that the NCAA is interfering with Fourqurean's contract with Wisconsin. Despite these legal challenges, Fourqurean has been a key player for Wisconsin as a starting cornerback over the past two seasons, contributing 51 tackles and one interception in the most recent season.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Fourqurean's case sheds light on the complexities of college athlete eligibility rules and the ongoing debates surrounding fairness and opportunities for student-athletes.
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