30-07-2025
Gadsden County football banned from postseason, coach and players suspended for violations
The Florida High School Athletic Association suspended Gadsden County football coach Russell Ellington and eight unnamed Jaguars players for a year and the FHSAA fined the school $21,500 for the various violations.
In a letter sent to Gadsden County principal Marlon Ball, the FHSAA said the football team violated six bylaws, including not reporting non-traditional student athletes (students who don't attend the school), student athletes submitting forms with falsified information or participating with incomplete forms, and players participating in summer activities without completing the non-traditional student registration process.
Gadsden County, which was the 2024 Class 2A state runner-up and a favorite to win this year's title, will be unable to participate in the postseason this fall.
Ellington, in a letter posted on his X account on July 28, said the school will appeal the findings. He said, 'the allegation of irregular registration is not the result of actions taken by the student athletes, me, or Gadsden County High School officials.'
Ellington said in the letter that neither he nor the players can respond or provide context regarding the investigation.
According to the findings, Gadsden County allowed four student athletes to play during the 2024 season without properly reporting as non-traditional students. The FHSAA defines non-traditional students as students who not enrolled in and do not physically attend the school at which they participate.
Gadsden County went 12-2, reached the Class 2A state championship game and Ellington was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A Coach of the Year in 2024.
The FHSAA findings also state that eight players submitted forms — signed by the student, parent/legal guardian and notary — that contained falsified information.
The potential sanctions Gadsden County is facing include the school being placed on Restrictive Probation and the football team being unable to participate in the 2025 postseason. The school also being assessed eight $2,500 penalties (one for each student), a $1000 penalty and a $500 penalty for a total of $21,500.
In addition, Ellington must forfeit $5,000 salary and is unable to coach or attend an interscholastic football contest at any level for one year, starting with the Kickoff Classic.
Gadsden County, expected to be one of the top teams in the state this fall, is scheduled to play defending Class 7A state champion Venice on Aug. 15.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FHSAA bans Gadsden County football from postseason for major violations
