August 26, 2026
Georgia Safety JaCorey Thomas Plans to Sue NCAA for Fifth Season of Eligibility
The Georgia safety joins a wave of 2022 class athletes seeking additional eligibility as the SEC moves to block pro players from returning to college.
Georgia safety JaCorey Thomas plans to file a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth season of eligibility, which would allow him to return to college football and enter the transfer portal, according to reporting by Pete Nakos of On3.
Thomas joins a growing list of athletes from the recruiting class of 2022 who have pursued legal action for an additional year of eligibility. A temporary restraining order has established that any athlete from that class can earn another season provided the player was not drafted, did not sign a professional contract, and did not redshirt. Thomas meets each of those criteria — he played six games during his freshman season in 2022 without redshirting and has not signed an NFL contract, having only accepted an invitation to a Carolina Panthers rookie camp.
Thomas' college career took time to develop. He recorded just two tackles during Georgia's national championship run in 2022, and his involvement remained limited in 2023 and 2024, when he totaled 16 tackles and two passes defended across his sophomore and junior seasons. His senior year in 2025, however, saw him earn a starting role and produce 45 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack — the latter two coming against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. His final college appearance ended on a disputed note when he was ejected for targeting in the Sugar Bowl.
SEC Moves to Restrict Returning Professionals
Thomas' pursuit of eligibility comes as the Southeastern Conference takes steps to limit the broader wave of players returning from professional ranks. Following a meeting of SEC presidents, chancellors, and athletic directors, the conference released a statement announcing it would enforce a policy preventing athletes who signed professional contracts from returning to collegiate competition after withdrawing from the NFL, NBA, or WNBA draft. The Big Ten passed a similar measure Tuesday, barring football players who moved into professional football from returning to compete for one of its member schools.
The SEC's new policy does not appear to affect Thomas' case, as he never signed a professional contract. His lawsuit will nonetheless unfold against a backdrop of intensifying institutional resistance to expanded eligibility, with two of the sport's most powerful conferences now formally aligned in opposition to the trend that recent court rulings have enabled.
