A New Update in the Pavia vs. NCAA Ruling Allows 2 Current NC State Players Extra Eligibility

Five days ago, a Tennessee court granted Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia an injunction in his lawsuit against the NCAA. Pavia’s is suing the NCAA, arguing that his years in Junior College shouldn’t count against his 4 years of college eligibility. When the Tennessee court granted the injunction, it looked like there was a possibility that any current players on NCAA football rosters who previously played in the JUCO ranks, any current JUCO players, and any future JUCO players would not have their years in Junior College count against their 4 years of NCAA eligibility.

At the point of that injunction, it looked like 4 current NC State players would be gaining extra years of eligibility: Left Tackle Anthony Belton, Safety Bishop Fitzgerald, Tight End Dante Daniels and Safety Rente Hinton. Also, this injunction would have given incoming 2025 JUCO Defensive End 4-years of eligibility when he takes the field for the Wolfpack next Fall.

Today, the NCAA voted to appeal the Tennessee court’s ruling.

With the NCAA’s appeal, any former JUCO player that exhausted their years of eligibility this season, will be granted an additional year of eligibility next year.

That means that Anthony Belton and Bishop Fitzgerald now have the ability to return next season. Both were starters for the Wolfpack this season, with Belton being a starter for practically the past 3 seasons.

Below are some of Belton and Fitzgerald’s tweets on this continually evolving saga.

👀🫣 https://t.co/ggcC8o5bEE

— Anthony“Escalade” Belton (@BeltonAnthony) December 19, 2024

You thinking what I’m thinking?

— Anthony“Escalade” Belton (@BeltonAnthony) December 19, 2024

😏 https://t.co/qNeuZwZsXK

— Bishop Fitzgerald (@BalloutBishop) December 23, 2024

I would be shocked if Belton came back next season. He is projected to be drafted next Spring. At one point, ESPN projected Belton as a possible 1st round pick, but I’m not sure his draft stock is quite that high anymore.

Could Belton come back to increase his draft stock? Possibly, but I’m not sure that’s likely.

With that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fitzgerald run it back in 2025. Before the court ruling and the NCAA’s appeal, NC State was looking to replace both of their starting Safeties: DK Kaufman and Bishop Fitzgerald.

Senior Devan Boykin didn’t play a single snap this season, recovering from an ACL injury, resulting in 2024 being a redshirt year. Boykin was the Wolfpack’s starter in 2023, and would have been a starter this season if he was healthy.

Boykin is expected to be a starter next year, but NC State hasn’t picked up a player in the Transfer Portal thus far, and hasn’t been actively recruiting the position in the Portal.

If Fitzgerald returns, NC State would have two Senior starters returning in 2025. That would be a huge deal for the Wolfpack.

Even though the NCAA just appealed the Tennessee court ruling, that doesn’t mean this case is over.