KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Following a federal judge’s ruling that the time he spent at a junior college should not impact his eligibility, former junior college baseball player Alberto Osuna is now seeking to become eligible to play for defending national champion Tennessee this season. Osuna, who played the 2021 season at Walters State Community College before transferring to North Carolina, is challenging the NCAA eligibility rules in a case similar to that of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who successfully obtained an injunction allowing him to play an additional season at Vanderbilt next fall.
Osuna believes that the year he spent at Walters State should not count against his Division I eligibility and is seeking injunctive relief to allow him to compete for Tennessee. His lawyer, Chad Hatmaker, filed a complaint at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, drawing parallels between Osuna’s case and Pavia’s successful legal battle.
While Osuna thought his Division I eligibility was exhausted after playing last season at North Carolina, he transferred to Division II program Tampa. However, upon learning of Pavia’s case and the potential for additional eligibility, Osuna entered the transfer portal and landed at Tennessee. Despite Tennessee filing a waiver request on his behalf, the NCAA has yet to make a decision, prompting the legal action.
Hatmaker argues that the NCAA’s current rules unfairly restrict athletes like Osuna, preventing them from taking advantage of market opportunities related to their name, image, and likeness. Osuna’s impressive collegiate career statistics underscore his desire to return to the diamond and continue his pursuit of success at the highest level of competition.
With the NCAA facing legal challenges to its eligibility regulations, athletes like Osuna are taking a stand to fight for their right to play and compete without unnecessary restrictions. Tennessee’s upcoming season opener against Hofstra serves as a backdrop to Osuna’s quest for a chance to showcase his talents on the field once again.
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