Declan Williams continues NCAA eligibility fight as UIW heads to Northern Arizona

As Incarnate Word was gearing up for a trip to face Northern Arizona on Saturday, defensive standout Declan Williams was instead looking to Dallas to continue the fight for his eligibility.  

One of many athletes across the country seeking a fifth year of eligibility to align with the NCAA’s new “five-for-five” system, Williams did not travel with the Cardinals for their next game at 3 p.m. Saturday in Flagstaff, Ariz., and his availability for the rest of the season remains in flux.  

A first-team All-Southland selection last season, Williams was added to UIW’s roster during preseason camp following the injunction issued by a U.S. District Court in Colorado that allowed a fifth season of eligibility for college players who started their careers in 2022.  

The NCAA was granted a stay by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Aug. 21 that again stripped eligibility for players like Williams, but he continued to pursue his case individually after first filing a lawsuit with Bexar County’s 166th District Court in mid-July.  

Williams was scheduled for a hearing Sept. 1 that was instead pushed back to Sept. 17. Rather than wait, Williams’ attorney Daniel MacNeil said they elected this week to end the suit in Bexar County and have Williams added to a case in Dallas.

Jordan Hudson, a former SMU receiver and now rookie with the Dallas Cowboys, is the lead plaintiff on a suit filed against the NCAA in Dallas County’s 68th District Court, which was scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Friday. As of Friday afternoon, Williams’ name had not been added to the list of about 50 plaintiffs in the case, but MacNeil confirmed that Williams was part of the suit.  

NCAA chief legal officer Scott Bearby issued a statement Friday regarding the NCAA’s continued pushback against athletes seeking injunctions similar to Williams, reiterating that those who played four seasons after starting their careers in 2022 remain ineligible. The statement noted that 77 lawsuits of this nature involving 612 former student-athletes have been filed, with 326 individuals receiving some form of relief while 286 have not.  

“The NCAA will continue to defend these cases and the Division I age-based eligibility rules, which is designed to preserve fair competition and equitable opportunities for eligible student-athletes,” Bearby wrote.  

Williams, who played at Rhode Island in 2022 and 2023 before transferring to UIW, tied for the team lead with 102 tackles last season while notching four sacks and a team-high 13 tackles for loss.  

He was listed on the roster but not included on the depth chart for UIW’s opener against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Aug. 29, watching the game from the Cardinals’ sideline without pads, wearing his jersey and black shorts.

After going undrafted this spring and earning NFL minicamp invitations with the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots that did not result in a continued opportunity, Williams returned to UIW in early July to begin working with the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. 

As buzz about lawsuits and fifth-year returners began to build nationally, Williams started thinking about the possibilities. Shortly after the Colorado injunction was issued, he jumped back into action.  

Still feeling the sting of UIW’s disappointing 5-7 season last year, Williams said during the preseason that he jumped at the opportunity to “right that wrong” while pushing toward a second chance at breaking through to the NFL.  

“I got another opportunity to strap the pads up and go out and practice with my favorite coaches and favorite teammates in the world,” Williams said during preseason camp. “I’m not really focusing on tomorrow could be my last day, just focusing on the mission ahead, going to win a conference championship.”  

UIW coach Clint Killough said he embraced the chance to have Williams back on the field, and Williams quickly returned to his role as a defensive captain.  

Though the eligibility question remained uncertain, Killough during the preseason said that the team planned to “monitor the situation and hope for the best.” If nothing else, Williams would still be welcomed back on staff as a graduate assistant.  

“He’s such a positive impact for these guys in whatever role. I think he’s going to be a heck of a coach one day,” Killough said. “I want him around my program. He’s a great human being. I trust him with anything.”  

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This article originally published at Declan Williams continues NCAA eligibility fight as UIW heads to Northern Arizona.