MTSU Football: Lineman Jack Mitchell deserves an eligibility waiver from the NCAA

MTSU offensive lineman Jack Mitchell is seeking a waiver from the NCAA to play in 2019, and if anyone deserves a waiver, it’s him.

Jack Mitchell is a Redshirt Senior at MTSU who is looking to play his final year of college football for the Blue Raiders. He’s a local guy that graduated from Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, and all he wants to do is play.

After speaking with him, I learned that he simply just wants to play. He played one season at Carson Newman before returning back to Murfreesboro to play for the Blue Raiders.

This would be Mitchell’s sixth season as a college football player but is still eligible to play under the new NCAA rule regarding eligibility.

He has only used up two years of his eligibility and lost his other two due to injury and other personal reasons, which means he should be able to play in 2019.

The only problem we have seen with the NCAA is they quickly grant eligibility to the well-known athletes who have publicly gone through the process but put other players to the side to be dealt with later.

Some of these guys move just to get more playing time and receive eligibility while others who have legitimate reasons to request this waiver don’t get it. We can’t allow this to happen with Mitchell. He’s given his life to football and loves the game and deserves to play in 2019.

Georgia Tech quarterback Lucas Johnson was facing a similar situation, and he was recently granted his sixth year of eligibility which should be a good thing for Mitchell. But this does pose the question, is the NCAA favoring Power 5 players in their decisions?

Johnson missed last season with a foot injury which is what qualified him to apply for a sixth year. He was granted eligibility, which should be a good thing for Mitchell.

College football season is right around the corner, and there are still college football players waiting on their decision from the NCAA.

With the NCAA being all over the place with their decisions it has to be worrisome for some guys, but other guys like Mitchell have a good case and should get another season if the NCAA is fair.