Stanton ruled ineligible by MSU
No, not Drew Stanton, but junior college transfer David Stanton. He was the only real depth MSU had at DT heading into the season and other players will need to be shuffled to DT to fill the void. The Lansing State Journal reported that his loss was described as a “crushing blow” by MSU head coach John L. Smith.
Defensive tackle David Stanton, a junior college transfer, was ruled academically ineligible last week, Smith revealed Monday at his weekly news conference. The junior from Los Angeles was expected to be MSU’s No. 3 defensive tackle in Saturday’s opener against Kent State, with the chance to earn a starting spot this season.
“We’re still trying to exhaust every avenue,” Smith said of MSU’s appeal to the NCAA.
Stanton was admitted to MSU and certified as eligible in the spring, but an audit by MSU’s Office of Registrar last week determined that he had not earned enough credits in junior college.
Although MSU ruled him ineligible, it would be up to the NCAA to grant a waiver and reinstate him. MSU’s compliance department is handling the appeal in an attempt to get that done, but Smith did not sound optimistic Monday. MSU also is petitioning the Big Ten to try to keep Stanton on scholarship.