Former Mizzou center among 15 athletes seeking 5th season amid new 5-in-5 eligibility model
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Tuesday’s NCAA Division I cabinet meeting saw a historic moment in college sports come to fruition. The NCAA is set to adopt a 5-in-5 eligibility model, which allows players to play 5 seasons after enrolling for their freshman season.
Soon after Tuesday’s news was released, however, several reporters shared that attorneys across several states are set to file legal cases on behalf of athletes whose eligibility expired this past season despite having played 4 seasons of DI competition before the adoption of the 5-in-5 rule.
The first of these cases was filed on Wednesday, and former LSU and Missouri center Shawn Phillips Jr. is among the plaintiffs. Also included are former Vanderbilt guard MJ Collins and Dayton’s Javon Bennett, among 12 others.
Phillips started his college career at LSU before transferring to play 2 seasons at Arizona State. He played his senior season at LSU in 2025-26 and now seeks another year to play elsewhere in 2026-27.
Notably, the filing calls for an injunction for these athletes to be able to sign anywhere without entering the transfer portal, which has closed for the offseason. If Phillips is able to return, it’s highly unlikely that he would play for the Tigers.
There will be similar filings across the next few weeks.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
