By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, WV – The West Virginia Mountaineers football program is grappling with uncertainty surrounding the eligibility of key defensive lineman Jimmori Robinson as the 2025 season approaches.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez provided an update earlier today at his press conference, shedding light on the ongoing efforts to clarify Robinson’s status, though a definitive resolution remains elusive.
“We’re still waiting on him. We have our general counsel that’s working with the NCAA and the Big 12, and our compliance department to make sure that we’re interpreting the judge’s order correctly. Obviously, the order was favorable to those guys being able to play, but we’re still in the middle of discussing that. Jimmori has not practiced, but the other three are practicing.”
Robinson, a transfer from UTSA, was initially ruled eligible for the 2024 season following a district court’s restraining order against the NCAA. However, the NCAA has since appealed the ruling, bringing into question Robinson’s status.
Just last Friday, West Virginia VP & Director of Athletics, Wren Baker, had his annual preseason press conference and touched on the matter.
“We have our General Counsel working with our Compliance Officer. We’ve engaged the Big 12 and I believe 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 to make sure we’re not putting the institution at risk.” Baker said.
“I’ll just make one other thing clear,” Baker stressed, “whether it was this case, or the case a couple of years ago (the case involving WVU basketball player RaeQuan Battle) we haven’t sued anybody, in terms of WVU. We are part of the NCAA. We help make those rules.”
West Virginia opens the season this Saturday at home against Robert Morris. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00pm.
