Dodd: 6 transferring Ole Miss players to appeal for immediate eligibility

[jbcarol]

Dennis Dodd‏Verified account @dennisdoddcbs

Breaking: CBS Sports has been provided with docs, screenshots that show how six transferring Ole Miss players are going to appeal for immediate eligibility at their new schools saying they were misled by Hugh Freeze. Yes, Mich fans, you want to read this.

Six Ole Miss players seeking immediate transfer waivers have assembled what are being portrayed as previously unknown smartphone and electronic interactions showing they were allegedly misled as to the extent of potential NCAA violations and punishments for the Rebels in statements made by former coach Hugh Freeze, CBS Sports has learned.

The documents will go into packages the players will submit seeking an appeal for immediate eligibility at their new schools. Without that waiver, they would have to adhere to NCAA rules that require transferring athletes to sit one year in academic residence.

In a series of texts that will be forwarded as part of these materials, there is evidence that shows players and their parents believed Freeze as he allegedly minimized the scope of the NCAA investigation concluded last year.

The players are essentially contending, because they were allegedly misled about the broader scope of the Ole Miss investigation, they should be eligible right away at their new schools.

Quarterback Shea Patterson is the most high-profile athlete appealing. His immediate eligibility would presumably have significant impact on Michigan's 2018 season and perhaps the Big Ten race as a whole.

"It's an open and shut case is what happened," said Tom Mars, an Arkansas attorney who is assisting the Ole Miss players with their appeals.

[jbcarol]

Dennis Dodd‏Verified account @dennisdoddcbs

Ole Miss transfer players used software that retrieves deleted messages to make case for immediate eligibility.