Canadian safety Jett Elad eligible to play for Rutgers after court decision

Jett Elad’s college football career can continue for one more season.

The Canadian safety received a preliminary injunction from a New Jersey court Friday, allowing him to play for Rutgers University in 2025 after filing a lawsuit against the NCAA.

Elad, a native of Mississauga, Ont., transferred from UNLV to Rutgers this off-season in hopes of finishing off his NCAA career on a bigger football stage.

But the NCAA had said he was not eligible to play because of its five-year rule, stating that student-athletes must play four seasons within five years.

At issue was the one season Elad spent at Garden City Community College in Kansas between stops at Ohio University and UNLV. Elad’s camp argued the Garden City year should not count because it does not fall under the NCAA’s jurisdiction.

Kevin Marino, Elad’s lawyer, told court last month the NCAA’s decision would prevent Elad from playing for “the coach of his dreams” along with receiving a “half-million-dollar contract” through a name, image and likeness deal.

Elad has been a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in NCAA football the past two years.

Rutgers, a member of the Big Ten Conference, opens its 2025 season on Aug. 28 against visiting Ohio.