Kiffin: Verdict still out on Springer's immediate eligibility

Navy transfer Jacob Springer is now on Ole Miss campus
Ole Miss officially announced a week ago that Navy transfer Jake Springer would be ineligible for the 2020 season.

But hold the horses on that for now, says Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. In an interview on Reb Talk with David Kellum, Kiffin said Thursday night that the verdict is still out on whether or not Springer can play in games this season.

"We don't know that yet," Kiffin said matter-of-factly when posed with the information that Springer would have to sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules. "The NCAA, around the country...guys with waivers and so forth, you don't know in advance, when you sign these kids, so we don't know that for sure."

Though he did not specifically say, it appears that Springer has filed some sort of appeal with the NCAA to grant immediate eligibility.

Springer, a safety/linebacker, has one season of eligibility at Ole Miss with a redshirt season to give. He is classified as a senior.

Springer appeared in 30 career games for Navy over the last three seasons, earning second team all-conference honors from the American Athletic Conference last year. He will have to sit out the 2020 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible in 2021 with one year of eligibility remaining.

The Kansas City, Missouri, native started 10 games for the Midshipmen in 2019, tallying 69 total tackles. Springer led Navy with 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks. The eight sacks were third most ever by a Midshipmen in a single season.

A contributor on both defense and special teams, Springer saw action in 17 games as a freshman and sophomore prior to his breakout campaign in 2019. He finished the 2018 season with 36 tackles, two pass breakups and two interceptions. Springer also returned 12 punts for 98 yards and five kickoffs for 15.6 yards per return. After battling injuries as a true freshman in 2017, Springer saw action in five of the last seven games for Navy.

Springer was a two-sport prep standout who earned letters in both football and track at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Missouri. On the gridiron, he earned all-state accolades as a senior and was a four-time all-conference honoree for the Panthers. He helped lead Park Hill South to an 11-2 record as a senior, on its way to both a conference and district championship.

Ole Miss is currently scheduled to open its 2020 season on Sun., Sept. 6, versus the Baylor Bears at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game will be Kiffrin's first at the helm of the Rebels program. He was hired in December to replace former head coach Matt Luke. Ole Miss' home opener is set for Sept. 12, versus FCS opponent Southeast Missouri State.


SOURCE: Johnson, David. "Kiffin: Verdict still out on Springer's immediate eligibility." OMSpirit - 247Sports.com, 17 July 2020, https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Ole-Miss-Football-Lane-Kiffin-Verdict-still-out-on-Springers-immediate-eligibility-149261359/