Wren Baker: West Virginia still assessing eligibility situation

Four West Virginia players were granted a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction by Judge John Preston Bailey over their eligibility status Wednesday.

But questions still remain.

The four players in question were redshirt seniors defensive end Jimmori Robinson, running back Tye Edwards, safety Justin Harrington and wide receiver Jeffrey Weimer who were requesting to extend their eligibility due to time spent at the junior college level after waiver denials by the NCAA.

The conclusion read:

“The NCAA will be ENJOINED from enforcing the five-year rule as it applies to Jimmori Robinson, Jeffrey Weimer, Tye Edwards and Justin Harrington. The NCAA is ORDERED to immediately grant West Virginia University and/or Jimmori Robinson, Jeffrey Weimer, Tye Edwards waivers of any NCAA eligibility rule that would preclude them from engaging in intercollegiate competition in the 2025-26 season based on their time spent at a junior college. The NCAA is also ORDERED to declare Jimmori Robinson, Jeffrey Weimer, Tye Edwards and Justin Harrington eligible to play for West Virginia University during the 2025-26 season. No security will be required. Finally, the NCAA is ENJOINED from enforcing its Rule of Restitution against Jimmori Robinson, Jeffrey Weimer, Tye Edwards, Justin Harrington and/or for complying with, and relying on, this Order. “

But one question that came up during the hearing was the claim made by the NCAA attorney that Robinson was academically ineligible regardless due to not meeting academic progress requirements at his previous school. There has yet to be any clarity on the situation if the order superseded that and Athletics Director Wren Baker was asked about it.

“We have our general counsel working with our compliance officer, we’ve engaged the Big 12. I believe that they have or will engage the NCAA to make sure we know what the judge’s ruling is at a high level to make sure we’re interpreting it the right way. And that we’re not putting the institution at any risk. And I’ll probably just leave the rest of it unsaid because I think we’re still unpacking and assessing and trying to figure out exactly where we are with all of those,” he said.

The NCAA released a statement at the time of the decision that was led by this.

“This ruling will lead to high school students losing opportunities to compete in college athletics and it erodes the academic standards have have for decades ensured student-athletes obtained education.”

Baker did make it clear that West Virginia University was not part of the suit and the school is part of the NCAA that helps to make the rules that govern college athletics. But he does support young people’s rights to pursue legal recourse if they feel that they’ve been denied an opportunity.

“We’re making sure. We’re starting the process of getting those guys that are eligible to get out here as quickly as possible. There’s obviously an acclimation period and all that stuff. But then also making sure that we fully understand all there is to understand,” Baker said.

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