What TC Taylor said about Jackson State football players who got, then lost a 5th year
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Jackson State football was preparing last week for its season opener with several players made eligible through an injunction granted by U.S. District Court of Colorado judge Charlotte Sweeney.
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Sweeney's injunction allowed players who graduated high school in 2022 to return for a fifth year as long as they had not signed a professional contract.
However, on Aug. 21, those players became ineligible once again when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit granted a stay of Sweeney's injunction.
Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor previously said JSU was exploring bringing back four or five players from the 2022 class ahead of its season opener against Tennessee State at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville on Aug. 29 (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+).
"We just went back to work like we never had them," Taylor said on Aug. 24. "It was a plus getting certain guys back out there, but ... it's part of the game. These rules and laws change, it seems like, every 10 minutes."
Taylor did not identify which players had rejoined the team.
Defensive back B.J. Washington and defensive lineman Kazarius Bowie were added to the team's online roster on Aug. 11 but no longer appear. Linebacker Reid Pulliam was also seen with the team at fan fest on Aug. 16.
Washington and Pulliam were both starters in 2025. Pulliam led the team with 74 tackles and was second with 10 tackles for loss. He also recorded three pass breakups, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries. He was selected to the All-SWAC first team.
Washington finished with 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and six pass breakups. His 50 tackles were the fifth most on the team.
Bowie played in 11 games as a backup, recording 13 tackles and three quarterback hurries.
"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. So, I hate it for them, but we would have loved to have them on our football team this year."
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What TC Taylor said about Jackson State football players who got, then lost a 5th year