For four Jackson State football players, the fight to play one more season has now moved from the football field to the courtroom.
Linebacker Reid Pulliam, defensive back B.J. Washington, and defensive linemen Tymon Wells and Kazarius Bowie filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, asking for a fifth year of eligibility, according to The Clarion-Ledger.
The lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rules for the 2026-27 season.
The timing couldn’t be more dramatic.
Jackson State is just days away from opening its season against Tennessee State in Nashville on Aug. 29. And for these four players, their eligibility status has been anything but settled.
For a brief stretch this summer, it looked like they might get their chance.
On July 31, U.S. District Court of Colorado Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted an injunction in a separate case involving several NCAA athletes. That decision temporarily opened the door for players like Pulliam, Washington, Wells and Bowie to return to the field.
Jackson State players fight to keep careers alive
They took advantage of it.
The players joined Jackson State during preseason camp, and two of them — Washington and Bowie — were officially added to the Tigers’ roster on Aug. 11. Pulliam and Washington were also seen with the team at Jackson State’s Fan Fest on Aug. 16, the newspaper reported.
Then, everything changed again.
On Aug. 21, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit granted the NCAA’s request to stay Sweeney’s injunction, effectively taking the players’ eligibility away once more.
Just like that, the door that had opened for three weeks slammed shut.
Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said on Monday that he felt for the players, particularly because some had already made significant life changes to return for another season.
“Let me say this, I hate it for those young men,” Taylor said. “Those guys came in and participated about in a week, two weeks of camp with us. You had guys quit jobs in order to come back and play football. Now, here they are back at square one.”
Players are important pieces of Tigers SWAC championship hopes
Taylor made it clear that, from Jackson State’s perspective, having the players back would have been a welcome boost.
“We would have loved to have them on our football team this year,” he said.
And there is a pretty compelling football argument for why the Tigers wanted them back.
Pulliam, an All-SWAC first-team selection in 2025, was one of Jackson State’s most productive defenders. He led the Tigers with 74 tackles and finished second on the team with 10 tackles for loss.
Washington was another key piece of the defense, finishing fifth on the team with 50 tackles.
Wells contributed 28 tackles, including five tackles for loss and two sacks, along with four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
Bowie saw action in 11 games as Wells’ backup and made two starts. He finished the season with 13 tackles.
