FAYETTEVILLE - A new court ruling in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday could lead to two Arkansas defensive backs not suiting up this season.
After a previous court ruling allowed NCAA athletes from the Class of 2022 to retain a year of eligibility, even if they had exhausted their four years, safety Caleb Wooden and Dartmouth transfer DB Sean Williams were both given a new lease on life, at least in regard to their eligiblity for the 2026 season. Wooden officially joined the Razorbacks on Aug. 16, one day before the start of the fall semester at the University of Arkansas, while Williams committed to Arkansas on Aug. 18.
On Friday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals gave the NCAA a stay of the previous July 31 ruling that gave Class of 2022 athletes that fifth year of eligibility, putting their statuses in doubt for their respective upcoming seasons.
"Institutions will not have violations for any class members who were allowed to compete consistent with the scope of the Wisne injunction prior to the stay being granted, and those former student-athletes are no longer eligible under the Wisne injunction," NCAA Chief Legal Officer Scott Bearby said, per Pete Nakos of On3.
For college football teams who added players from the Class of 2022 such as Arkansas, confusion may be the best word to describe the situation.
Arkansas isn't thin in terms of numbers in the secondary, but both Wooden and Williams were solid depth pieces with an opportunity to make an impact for defensive coordinator Ron Roberts.
Wooden and Williams are far from the only players who are now essentially in limbo with 15 days until Week 1 of the 2026 season. Former Ole Miss players Zxavian Harris, Wydett Williams and Dae'Quan Wright all entered the transfer portal. Former LSU and Florida linebacker Jack Pyburn had two sacks for the New York Jets in a preseason game but was granted a fifth year of eligibility by a Wednesday ruling in Louisiana's 19th Judicial District Court.
Notably, players who were ruled eligible under state rulings, as opposed to Friday's federal ruling, do retain their eligibility. But that does not apply to Wooden and Sean Williams.
For the moment and barring any other forthcoming rulings, the Razorbacks appear to have lost two important depth pieces on defense with only 15 days until their Sept. 5 season opener against North Alabama.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/arkansas as New Court Ruling Puts Eligibility of Arkansas' Caleb Wooden, Sean Williams in Jeopardy .
