Florida State junior defensive lineman Darrell Jackson's hardship waiver was denied by the NCAA, meaning he isn't eligible to play this season, head coach Mike Norvell announced Tuesday.

"I'm extremely disappointed for that young man, for his journey and for the reason why he's here, it's just sad that he's missing games," Norvell told reporters. "He came home for a reason."

A native of Havana, Florida, Jackson spent his freshman season at Maryland before transferring to Miami for the 2022 season. When Jackson announced his transfer to the Seminoles in December, Jackson told 247Sports he was going to pursue a hardship waiver to play this season because his mother is going through health issues and "she wanted me to be closer to home." Jackson's mother lives about 30 minutes away from Tallahassee.

"To be there for his mom and of all things that was shown and presented, but ultimately the NCAA has a choice of what they're going to do," Norvell said. "Coming back home to help his mom, he's a remarkable young man."

Jackson said it was "hurtful" learning of the NCAA's decision, but he and his mother have gotten support from Florida State.

"I came home for my mom, so I'm just trying to go through it and be here for my mom. She thinks it's her fault, but it's not," he said.

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NCAA hardship waiver rules

The NCAA defines the Eligibility-Hardship Waiver as the following:

"A student-athlete may be granted an additional year of competition by the conference or the Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet for reasons of "hardship." Hardship is defined as an incapacity resulting from an injury or illness that has occurred under all of the following conditions:

  • unchanged.
  • The injury or illness occurs prior to the completion of the first half of the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship in that sport  not exceeding the maximum limitations in each sport as set forth in Bylaw 17 as set prior to the first scheduled contest or date of competition) and results in incapacity to compete for the remainder of that playing season.
  • The injury or illness occurs when the student-athlete has not participated in more than two contests or dates of competition (whichever is applicable to that sport) or 20 percent (whichever number is greater) of the institution's completed scheduled contests or dates of competition in his or her sport."

Norvell said the school is going to continue to go through the process to see if Jackson could be eligible this season, but if Jackson is unable to play this season, Norvell said the team will continue to develop him as a player.

"If he is not able to play in games this fall, we're still going to push, develop and do everything we can to put him in the best position to be one of the best defensive linemen in the country," Norvell said. "He's got an incredible future ahead of him. He will play this game for a long time."

Ranked No. 8 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, Florida State will open its season against No. 5 LSU on Sept. 3 in Orlando, Florida.

Contributing: Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat

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