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Extended stay Mississippi State's Jackson gains extra year of eligibilityPosted: Thursday August 14, 2003 12:49 PM
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi State defensive lineman Kamau Jackson had his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA and has returned to practice with the Bulldogs. Mississippi State compliance director Bracky Brett said Thursday that Jackson would have to sit out the first two games of the season. Jackson is slated to make his season debut against Houston on Sept. 20. He was expected to be a starter after a strong spring practice. Ronald Fields moved to the top of the depth chart while Jackson was being held out. Last season, Jackson played in played 12 games and made six starts at defensive end. He had 47 tackles and a sack. The NCAA initially denied Jackson a fifth-year of eligibility, refusing to accept a redshirt year he took at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. On Wednesday, an NCAA official informed Brett that the decision had been changed. Brett got the news to Jackson and the 276-pound tackle practiced with the team for the first time since training camp began. "He was very excited," Brett said. Jackson played one game during his first season at Co-Lin in 1999 before leaving the team for personal reasons. He received a redshirt from the National Junior College Athletic Association and returned to the team the next season. He transferred to Mississippi State in 2001. Brett filed a waiver with the NCAA, requesting another year of eligibility for Jackson last spring. The NCAA denied the waiver last month, saying it would not accept the hardship case because it occurred at a nonmember institution. Mississippi State then requested assistance from the Southeastern Conference in asking the NCAA to reconsider Jackson's case. "It just shows the process works to the benefit of the student athletes," Brett said. "We're thankful to the NCAA and SEC and the commissioner for helping us get Kamau reinstated." Brett said the penalty fell in line with normal NCAA procedure. "The standard is two-for-one," said Brett, referring to the one game Jackson played at Co-Lin in 1999.
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