There is now a significant unknown surrounding the status of Wisconsin veteran cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean entering the 2025 football season.
A busy week of headlines saw Fourqurean granted a preliminary injunction by a federal judge after he argued for another year of eligibility, stating that his two years at the D-II level (Grand Valley State) shouldn’t restrict him from available name, image and likeness opportunities. That decision restricts the NCAA from enforcing its four-year eligibility standards, paving the way for Fourqurean to return and play for the Badgers in 2025.
According to the veteran cornerback, that’s exactly what he expects to do. He withdrew his name from the NFL draft by Friday’s deadline and is set to return to the program.
There is one significant roadblock, however. The NCAA, after a strong statement calling for congressional support, appealed the judge’s decision in Fourqurean’s case. This puts the cornerback’s eligibility status on hold as the legal process continues.
The veteran cornerback addressed the situation in a lengthy statement posted to X on Friday:
“I want to start by thanking everyone who has offered me their support. The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind to say the least. I am extremely grateful for Judge [William] Conley’s decision to grant my injunction and provide me with a path to continue my college playing career at UW. As many know, the deadline for me to make my decision regarding remaining in the draft is [Friday]. While you would think the injunction would make that an easy decision, the path was not as clear as I had hoped.
Rather than allowing me to play, the NCAA filed an appeal and refused to grant a waiver to me as was done for others like me. It is clear the NCAA is not done fighting my ability to play. The decision to appeal by the NCAA left me in a tough spot because opting out of the draft is not something that can wait while the appeal process continues.
While I wish I had more certainty, I have decided to put my faith in the legal process and in Judge Conley’s decision and have pulled out of the draft so that I can continue my playing career at UW. I am excited for what this year will bring and hopeful that I will be able to be out there with my teammates, representing my school for the duration of the year.
Wisconsin would benefit greatly from Fourqurean’s potential return. The standout cornerback tallied 51 tackles, two for loss, one interception and five pass deflections in 12 starts in 2024. With star Ricardo Hallman back at one boundary cornerback position, Fourqurean’s availability could give the Badgers one of the Big Ten’s best duos at the position.
The NCAA, however, is working to maintain what remains of its governance over college athletics, specifically football. The organization recently granted waivers to former junior college players after losing a court case similar to Fourqurean’s. However, it is less inclined to do the same for former D-II players, making Fourqurean’s eligibility waiver a less-than-guaranteed outcome.
Stay tuned as updates follow as the legal process continues.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
