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Ole Miss transfer will not be eligible for Auburn until 2015, coach says
After former Ole Miss lineman Austin Golson announced that he would transfer to Auburn to be closer to his sick grandparents in Prattville, Ala., he was hopeful that his family situation would allow the NCAA to grant him a hardship waiver. The waiver would have given the sophomore immediate eligibility, but Tigers offensive line coach J.B. Grimes said Monday that Golson’s appeal was denied.
“As of today, Austin will have to redshirt this year,” Grimes said, according to the Anniston Star.
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze originally hinted at giving Golson a full release that would have allowed him to be on scholarship at Auburn in 2014, but the Rebels ultimately decided to grant Golson’s transfer request under "normal transfer rules.” Because of that, he will join the Tigers as a walk-on in the fall, and then will be put on scholarship next year.
Golson played in 12 games at right guard as a true freshman for the Rebels last season. After spring practice, he was at the top of the team’s depth chart at right tackle before making the decision to transfer.
Grimes is excited about his new player’s potential.
“When I heard that there was a possibility that this could happen, I went back and watched him play,” Grimes said. “I pulled up some Ole Miss and some opponent tape and watched him some. He’s a good player. He’s got great size and he’s been involved in SEC football games. There’s no better experience than that.”
The 6-foot-5, 309-pound Golson was a four-star recruit in the class of 2013 and was ranked the No. 118 overall prospect in the country by Rivals. After he redshirts the 2014 season, Golson will have three years of eligibility for the Tigers beginning in 2015.
For more Auburn news, visit AuburnSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
