Although the NCAA announced relaxed transfer rules for football players in the wake of the historic sanctions levied against the university, the details of these relaxed rules have been somewhat unclear. Now that Penn State players are exercising their option, most notably Norwalk’s Silas Redd, who is transferring to USC, it is a good time to take a look at the rules governing Penn State transfers.
Here are highlights from the NCAA’s website:
- Football student-athletes who transfer will not have to sit out a year of competition. Any current football student-athletes who transfer to any NCAA school (all divisions) during the 2012-13 academic year will be immediately eligible, provided they are admitted through the normal process and are otherwise eligible.
- Permission-to-contact rules are suspended. Penn State cannot restrict in any way a student-athlete from pursuing a possible transfer. Student-athletes must simply inform Penn State of their interest in discussing transfer options with other schools. Before communicating with student-athletes, interested schools also must inform Penn State of their intention to open discussions with the student-athlete.
- Official visit rules have been loosened. Any incoming or currently enrolled football student-athletes interested in taking an official visit will be permitted to do so during the 2012-13 academic year, effective immediately. The “clock” for official visits will be re-set at this time. The post-high school limits of five total visits to Division I institutions and one visit per institution continue to apply; however, student-athletes may begin taking such visits immediately.
- If a student-athlete transfers for the fall of 2012 to a school that has reached its scholarship limits, the school may exceed these numbers for the 2012-13 academic year, provided it reduces such limits proportionately in the 2013-14 academic year. For example, if one student-athlete transfers to a Division I school already at the legislated limits of 25 initial counters and 85 overall counters for 2012-13, the school will be limited to 24 initial counters and 84 overall counters in 2013-14.
For a complete list of the rules, click here for the NCAA’s fact sheet.
