In Raleigh, North Carolina, a federal judge has made a decision that impacts Corey Coley Jr., a cornerback who aspired to continue his college football career with a fifth year of eligibility at N.C. State. Coley had been aiming to take advantage of the opportunities available through name, image, and likeness (NIL) monetary gains.
Coley’s situation comes as a part of a broader legal challenge against the NCAA’s policy that restricts college athletes to compete only four seasons within a span of five years. As part of his effort, he had filed for an injunction that would permit him to play in the upcoming fall season, but this request was rejected by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. In his written decision, Judge Dever explained that the potential hardships and impacts did not weigh in favor of granting Coley’s request.
Coley’s college football journey began with three seasons at the University of Maryland before he transferred to N.C. State. However, his tenure at N.C. State was cut short due to a season-ending injury after participating in six games in 2024. In seeking to continue his career, Coley submitted a hardship waiver to the NCAA to receive another year of eligibility, but this was declined. Consequently, Coley proceeded with an antitrust lawsuit. His argument emphasized the potential for earning significant NIL income if he was allowed to play once more this year.
Despite these efforts, Judge Dever pointed out that, even if Coley were successful in obtaining an injunction, there was no certainty he would gain the further playing time or the NIL compensation he anticipated. The situation thus remains unresolved in terms of Coley’s future football endeavors and financial opportunities.