Los Angeles – In a significant development for college football, Kaedin Robinson, a former wide receiver from Appalachian State and a recent transfer to UCLA, has taken legal action against the NCAA. Robinson has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California, aiming to reclaim his eligibility to participate in the upcoming 2025-2026 season at UCLA.
In March, the NCAA denied Robinson’s waiver request, stating that he had already exhausted his collegiate eligibility. In a detailed 19-page complaint, submitted last Tuesday, Robinson argues that the NCAA unfairly penalized him for his time with the ASA Brooklyn Avengers, a junior college team in New York, and for challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He claims that the NCAA’s decision not only limits his opportunities but also rests on what he describes as an “unlawful” five-year eligibility rule that violates antitrust laws.
The lawsuit asserts that the NCAA’s actions could cause “immediate irreparable harm” to Robinson, blocking his chance to play during his final collegiate season at UCLA. This is particularly notable as he could have been a key target for freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Additionally, Robinson stands to lose a lucrative $450,000 Name, Image, and Likeness contract that UCLA has offered him.
This legal action follows a similar case involving Diego Pavia, a former Vanderbilt quarterback who received an extra year of eligibility after filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, which also claimed violations of antitrust laws. Like Robinson, Pavia is a former junior college player and argued that time spent in JUCO should not count against his eligibility. Though Pavia’s decision was made by a federal judge, there has not yet been a final ruling.
The NCAA’s five-year rule permits student-athletes four years of play within a five-year time frame starting from their first day of classes at any collegiate institution, including junior colleges. This has drawn criticism as it hinders athletes from earning compensation through NIL opportunities while also affecting their eligibility. In response to the Pavia case, the NCAA granted additional eligibility to several junior college players for the 2025-2026 academic year, resulting in confusion over the differing rulings in Robinson’s case.
Robinson’s argument cites that the inconsistent application of NCAA rules between his case and that of Pavia is unjust. He is seeking the restoration of his playing eligibility, along with compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorney fees related to this lawsuit.
After his stint at junior college, where he only made one catch for 30 yards during a season at Central Florida, Robinson transferred to Appalachian State. Over three years there, he recorded 14 touchdowns and over 2,000 receiving yards. His performance at UCLA was promising, as he collected 67 catches for 905 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Robinson also earned an All-Sun Belt First Team selection in 2024 before an injury cut his season short.
