Four members of the Jackson State program are headed back to court, filing a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking a fifth season of college eligibility for the 2022 class.
Linebacker Reid Pulliam, defensive back B.J. Washington and defensive linemen Tymon Wells and Kazarius Bowie filed suit against the NCAA on Aug. 24 in Hinds County Chancery Court, according to documents obtained by The Clarion Ledger.
The move comes just a day after Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor expressed frustration over players who had returned to the program. They believing they would be eligible to compete in 2026, only to have that opportunity taken away again.
“I hate it for those young men,” Taylor said. “Those guys came in and participated in, what, a week or two weeks of camp with us. You had guys quit jobs in order to come back and play football, and now here they are back at square one.”
Bowie and Washington had been added back to the Jackson State roster on Aug. 11 before being removed following an Aug. 21 ruling. Bowie, Washington and Pulliam were also seen with the team at Jackson State’s fan fest on Aug. 16.
Now all four players are asking the court for relief that would allow them to play another season.
Jackson State could regain major defensive pieces
The stakes are significant for Jackson State.
Washington, Pulliam and Wells were all starters for the Tigers in 2025. Pulliam earned first-team All-SWAC honors after leading JSU with 74 tackles while finishing second on the team with 10 tackles for loss.
He also recorded three pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries.
Washington finished the season with 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and six pass breakups. Wells totaled 28 tackles with five tackles for loss, two sacks, four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Bowie appeared in 11 games behind Wells and made two starts, finishing with 13 tackles and three quarterback hurries.
Their potential return would provide an immediate boost to a defense Taylor already believes improved significantly through the transfer portal.
The larger issue, however, extends beyond Jackson State.
Players from the 2022 high school class have been caught in an evolving eligibility battle over whether they should receive a fifth season. Taylor described the situation as difficult to navigate because eligibility decisions have changed even after players were allowed to rejoin the team.
“These rules and laws change it seems like every 10 minutes,” Taylor said.
Southern head coach Marshall Faulk expressed similar uncertainty Monday while discussing defensive lineman Ckelby Givens, another player seeking an additional season.
Faulk said Southern was prepared to wait until the last possible moment for clarity.
“We’re going to take it up to the clock to see what happens,” Faulk said. “Hopefully things work out for the class of 2022, that those kids, they get an extra year and that Kelby gets to play with us another year.”
For Jackson State, the issue has now moved from the depth chart to the courtroom.
And with four players challenging the NCAA, the battle over the 2022 class could still reshape the Tigers’ roster after the season has already begun.