DeSantis scathes NCAA for denying FSU’s Darell Jackson Jr. a hardship waiver
Amber Jo Cooper contributed to this report.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis voiced opposition to the NCAA denying Florida State University defensive lineman Darrell Jackson, Jr. a hardship waiver.
“The @NCAA rejected a hardship waiver for a college athlete to play near his ailing mother, but allows biological males in locker rooms with female athletes,” DeSantis said. “It’s clear their priorities are out of step with Americans.”
Jackson transferred to the school this past offseason to be closer to his ailing mother.
He played for University of Maryland in 2021 and transferred to University of Miami in 2022, therefore needing to petition for a waiver since he already transferred once before.
The denial will require Jackson to sit out during the 2023 season.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also recently sounded off on the NCAA for their denial of Jackson’s hardship waiver.
“Strong communities are built from strong families,” Rubio said. “I commend Darrell for his decision to put family first and move home. The NCAA’s decision to deny Darrell’s waiver request sends a wrong message to our young adults when confronted with family health.”
Rubio said Jackson is experiencing “every family’s worst nightmare.”
“A sick parent is tough on grown children. To have to go through this while still in college is especially difficult. Strong communities are built from strong families. I commend Darrell for his decision to put family first and move home,” Rubio said.
“NOTHING is more important than family But when Darrell Jackson Jr. decided to transfer to @FSUFootball to be closer to his ailing mother the @NCAA denied his waiver & is going to force him to sit out the year They need to reconsider this arbitrary & terrible decision,” Rubio said.
Rubio said this decision sends a “wrong message to our young adults when confronted with family health.”
“Darrell’s hardship application deserves a second look. If this is not what hardship waivers are for, then what is?” Rubio asked.
Jackson recently said he was “hurt” by the decision.
“I know what I came home for […] I came home for my mom, so I’m just trying to go through it and be here for my mom,” Jackson said. “She thinks it’s her fault, but it’s not.”
The NCAA reportedly said that it would be “tightening the criteria for awarding hardship waivers, with being closer to ailing family members no longer standing as a focal point in granting waivers.”
