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Transfer Dean Miller Denied Extra Year, Won’t Play at UCF
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- Transfer Dean Miller Denied Extra Year, Won’t Play at UCF
(Danny Medley/Imagn Images)
Dean Miller's college football career has come to an end after an Orange County Ninth Circuit Court judge denied his request for an extra year of eligibility, Matt Murschel of The Orlando Sentinel reported on Tuesday afternoon .
Miller signed a $300,000 deal to play for the UCF Knights after entering the transfer portal. If approved, he would've strengthened the team's edge rushing unit with Sincere Edwards, Isaiah Nixon, Ken Talley and Bruno Dall.
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He was one of many athletes seeking an additional year of eligibility after exhausting his last season this past spring. His situation is slightly different, as he fought to not count his JUCO year at the College of the Canyons in 2021.
He attempted to earn the same injunction that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Diego Pavia and BC Lions defensive back Jett Elad did during their time in college.
Pavia won his injunction in December 2024, which granted him one final year of eligibility to play for Vanderbilt. His case opened the door for other athletes who played at the JUCO level to file lawsuits to continue playing college sports.
This saga has seen major shifts over the past couple of months, and UCF has been caught in the middle of this battle with another athlete.
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Linebacker Cole Kozlowski was granted another year and happily returned to the practice fields. The Knights added him to the roster on their website .
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NCAA a stay on Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado's ruling on Friday morning. Judge Sweeney's July 31 decision granted athletes who exhausted their fourth year of eligibility this past spring an additional year.
Depending on the ruling for Kozlowski, UCF could lose two potential additions to its defense.
"The rules are changing faster than Mario Brothers when you go through warp zones," coach Scott Frost told local reporters on Aug. 10 . "He was cleared to be back and is enrolled in classes, but we're waiting on a final decision."
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Miller started 11 games for Kansas last season and totaled 29 tackles (13 solo), four tackles for loss and one sack. Against the Knights, he tallied two tackles in the Jayhawks' 27-20 victory on Oct. 4. In 2024, he led the Big 12 with six sacks.
Athletes battling for a fifth year of college football have created a cloud of uncertainty over many schools before the season starts. UCF continues to be in the midst of this saga, losing Miller and potentially Kozlowski.
