Latest news with #DJWingfield
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Offensive lineman DJ Wingfield files lawsuit against NCAA in bid to play for USC
When DJ Wingfield picked USC in the transfer portal last January, it seemed like an ideal one-year arrangement for both parties. The Trojans desperately needed experience on the interior of their already thin offensive line. Wingfield — after two seasons at a junior college, one at New Mexico and another spent at Purdue — was seeking to raise his profile in his final season of eligibility. USC offered him a clear path to playing time at left guard, as well as a $210,000 payday for his name, image and likeness. He just needed the NCAA to approve a waiver for him to play another season. Neither Wingfield nor USC figured that would be a problem at the time. But the NCAA denied Wingfield's initial request for a waiver in late March, then later denied his appeal. Read more: Wide receiver Kaedin Robinson suing NCAA in bid to play for UCLA this season So, with fall camp set to open this week, Wingfield took the only route remaining for him to play at USC: He filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking injunctive relief in order to play for USC. Wingfield is seeking to challenge the lawfulness of the NCAA's 'Five-Year Rule', which contends that players are eligible to play four seasons of competition across five years. Both USC and Wingfield believed, according to the complaint, that his waiver would be approved, considering recent rulings in the cases of Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Rutgers' Jett Elad, each of whom won the right in court to play an additional season. But the waiver was denied, robbing Wingfield, he claims, of what could have been a 'once-in-a-lifetime' NIL payday as well as an opportunity to 'enhance his career and reputation' by playing at USC. 'The effect of the NCAA's anticompetitive conduct will be to penalize Wingfield for having attended a junior college and for the disruptions caused by the pandemic,' the complaint reads. 'The NCAA's anticompetitive conduct, coupled with its unreasonable denial of Wingfield's meritorious request for a waiver, thus threatens him with immediate irreparable harm.' Wingfield's collegiate career began in 2019 at El Camino College, a junior college in Torrance. He left El Camino during the 2020 season due to the pandemic, as Wingfield was tasked with taking care of his mother. He played at El Camino in 2021 before transferring to New Mexico in the spring of 2022. Before completing a single game with the Lobos, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, ending his season. He returned to play in nine games in 2023 before entering the transfer portal. Wingfield transferred to Purdue where he earned a starting job in 2024, five years after he first started his college football career. Still, he figured the NCAA would look past that timeline, given his circumstances and the cascade of legal challenges claiming that the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by limiting athletes' eligibility. Now that decision — and Wingfield's college football future — is in the hands of a federal judge. Whatever that judge decides could have an adverse impact on the Trojans offense this season. Without Wingfield, USC would be perilously thin up front. His absence could mean sliding projected right tackle Tobias Raymond to guard, while sophomore Justin Tauanuu steps in as starting right tackle. Otherwise, USC is likely to turn to inexperienced sophomore Micah Banuelos at left guard. Read more: Times of Troy Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
USC offensive lineman DJ Wingfield files lawsuit seeking an eligibility waiver
When DJ Wingfield picked USC in the transfer portal last January, it seemed like an ideal one-year arrangement for both parties. The Trojans desperately needed experience on the interior of their already thin offensive line. Wingfield — after two seasons at a junior college, one at New Mexico and another spent at Purdue — was seeking to raise his profile in his final season of eligibility. USC offered him a clear path to playing time at left guard, as well as a $210,000 payday for his name, image and likeness. He just needed the NCAA to approve a waiver for him to play another season. Neither Wingfield nor USC figured that would be a problem at the time. But the NCAA denied Wingfield's initial request for a waiver in late March, then later denied his appeal. So, with fall camp set to open this week, Wingfield took the only route remaining for him to play at USC: He filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, seeking injunctive relief in order to play for USC. Wingfield is seeking to challenge the lawfulness of the NCAA's 'Five-Year Rule', which contends that players are eligible to play four seasons of competition across five years. Both USC and Wingfield believed, according to the complaint, that his waiver would be approved, considering recent rulings in the cases of Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Rutgers' Jett Elad, each of whom won the right in court to play an additional season. But the waiver was denied, robbing Wingfield, he claims, of what could have been a 'once-in-a-lifetime' NIL payday as well as an opportunity to 'enhance his career and reputation' by playing at USC. 'The effect of the NCAA's anticompetitive conduct will be to penalize Wingfield for having attended a junior college and for the disruptions caused by the pandemic,' the complaint reads. 'The NCAA's anticompetitive conduct, coupled with its unreasonable denial of Wingfield's meritorious request for a waiver, thus threatens him with immediate irreparable harm.' Wingfield's collegiate career began in 2019 at El Camino College, a junior college in Torrance. He left El Camino during the 2020 season due to the pandemic, as Wingfield was tasked with taking care of his mother. He played at El Camino in 2021 before transferring to New Mexico in the spring of 2022. Before completing a single game with the Lobos, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, ending his season. He returned to play in nine games in 2023 before entering the transfer portal. Wingfield transferred to Purdue where he earned a starting job in 2024, five years after he first started his college football career. Still, he figured the NCAA would look past that timeline, given his circumstances and the cascade of legal challenges claiming that the NCAA is violating antitrust laws by limiting athletes' eligibility. Now that decision — and Wingfield's college football future — is in the hands of a federal judge. Whatever that judge decides could have an adverse impact on the Trojans offense this season. Without Wingfield, USC would be perilously thin up front. His absence could mean sliding projected right tackle Tobias Raymond to guard, while sophomore Justin Tauanuu steps in as starting right tackle. Otherwise, USC is likely to turn to inexperienced sophomore Micah Banuelos at left guard.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC offensive lineman DJ Wingfield hires an attorney to fight for 2025 eligibility
Earlier this offseason, USC football picked up a commitment from Purdue offensive line transfer DJ Wingfield. Wingfield was projected to play a significant role for a Trojans offensive line that lost several starters from last season. At the time, it was assumed that Wingfield had one season of eligility remaining. However, according to a report from On3 Thursday, Wingfield has yet to get a waiver from the NCAA granting him a sixth year of eligibility due to the fact that he started his college career at the junior college level. Per the report, Wingfield is hiring an attorney in his battle for eligibility. Here is some of what On3 reporter Pete Nakos had to say about Wingfield's situation: "USC offensive lineman DJ Wingfield is hiring attorney Darren Heitner in his battle to play in the upcoming 2025 season, On3 has learned. Wingfield was believed to have one season of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA waiver for players who have at least one season at a non-NCAA program. "The Purdue transfer has not been able to secure that waiver to this point, On3 has learned. He previously declared for the NFL draft before entering the portal and transferring to USC. "The NCAA waiver was issued in December. According to NCAA guidance, if an athlete has time remaining in their period of eligibility to use during the 2025-26 academic year based on relief provided due to impacts of COVID-19, they can return for another season provided that they used at least one season at a non-NCAA institution. "Wingfield is now bringing in Heitner, with the expectation that he will file a suit for an injunction, which would allow him to play this fall if granted. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive lineman started his career at El Camino Junior College, where he played 22 games." USC is certainly hoping that Wingfield is able to get this issue sorted out and be ruled eligible for the 2025 season. Otherwise, the Trojans would lose one of their projected starting offensive linemen just a few weeks before the start of fall camp, which would be a major blow to the team.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Report: USC OL DJ Wingfield hires attorney in NCAA eligibility battle
Southern California offensive lineman DJ Wingfield is hiring an attorney to contest his eligibility for the 2025 season, On3 reported Thursday. Wingfield transferred from Purdue to USC after the 2024 season, believing he could play one more season due to an NCAA waiver for players with at least one season at a non-NCAA program. He has been unable to secure that waiver, per the report. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman began his career at El Camino Junior College, playing 22 games there from 2020-21 before competing at New Mexico (2022-23) and Purdue. His 2022 campaign ended with an injury in the season opener. He started all 12 games at right guard for the Boilermakers. Wingfield is hiring attorney Darren Heitner and is expected to file a lawsuit for an injunction that would allow him to play this fall, per On3. Wingfield originally declared for the 2025 NFL Draft before entering the portal and committing to the Trojans in January. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
