Canadian’s case will ‘impact the landscape of college football’: NCAA lawyer

An eligibility case involving Canadian star safety Jett Elad could have major ramifications for the NCAA, a lawyer for the organization said in New Jersey court on Wednesday.

If Elad plays a final college season at Rutgers University, it will “impact the landscape of college football,” NCAA lead attorney Kenneth Racowski said in court, per NJ.com.

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 has said he is not eligible to play because of its five-year rule.

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

Racowski said “there has to be a line somewhere” in terms of eligibility.

Elad and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano told court on Wednesday that they felt he would be eligible based on a similar case involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.

Kevin Marino, Elad’s lawyer, said 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.

Schiano said Elad has shown in spring camp the players is “everything we would have wanted and more.”

Marino said the NCAA was trying to defend its “crazy quilt of rules.”

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

U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi said he expects to have a decision by next week. Elad is allowed to participate at spring camp because of a temporary restraining order.

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