Dallas judge grants temporary restraining order to Cowboys WR, Georgia DB seeking fifth year of eligibility
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
A Dallas judge on Thursday granted a temporary restraining order to over 40 student-athletes from the Class of 2022 seeking a fifth year of eligibility. Topping that list: a former ACC wide receiver who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and a former Georgia defensive back who signed a UDFA deal with the Carolina Panthers.
According to court documents released by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellinger, former TCU and SMU WR Jordan Hudson, along with former UGA DB JaCorey Thomas and over 40 others spanning various sports, were listed as plaintiffs, with the NCAA, the SEC, and Greg Sankey as defendants in the case. Others listed as plaintiffs were former SMU forward Corey Washington, ex-Mississippi State forward Brandon Walker, and former Houston WR Stephon “Boogie” Johnson.
Hudson’s college career began at TCU before transferring to SMU, where he remained for the next three seasons. In 2025, he made 61 catches for 66 yards and six touchdowns. Thomas, who saw limited action in 2022, went on to play in 41 games over the next three seasons, eventually ending 2025 with 45 tackles.
Hudson and Thomas’s restraining order only applies to the NCAA’s ruling against Class of 2022 athletes seeking a fifth year. But they’ll have to contend with the policies issued by each of the Power 4 conferences that banned football players who had signed NFL contracts from participating.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
