A Washtenaw County judge has cleared the way for Michigan to add tight end Alex Bauman and defensive back Jeremiah Earby to its roster this season, granting a temporary restraining order that keeps the two fifth-year players eligible while their case against the NCAA proceeds. Judge Julia B. Owdziej issued the Michigan eligibility ruling for Bauman and Earby on Tuesday, according to Sporting News and Bleacher Report.
Both players are already enrolled at Michigan and were hoping to suit up for the Wolverines in their fifth college season, according to Bleacher Report. The school left open roster spots in anticipation of a favorable ruling, according to Sporting News.
What The Ruling Says
Owdziej wrote that blocking Bauman and Earby from playing would cause harm that is “irreparable and severe,” while the damage to the NCAA from allowing them to play would be “negligible,” according to Bleacher Report. The ruling is part of a broader legal fight playing out in multiple courtrooms over the NCAA’s eligibility rules, according to Bleacher Report.
Plaintiffs in these cases argue the rule unfairly targets the high school class of 2022, cutting them out of NIL deals and revenue-sharing payments now available to athletes under the House settlement, according to Bleacher Report. A preliminary injunction hearing tied to the players’ push for a fifth year of eligibility is set for Nov. 4, according to Sporting News.
Who Bauman And Earby Are
Bauman, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end, caught 18 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown last season at Miami, helping the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff national championship game, according to Sporting News. He spent three seasons at Tulane before transferring to Miami and has 63 career catches for 610 yards and 13 touchdowns, according to Bleacher Report.
Earby, a 6-foot-2, 186-pound defensive back, started two seasons at Boise State after beginning his career at California. He recorded 94 tackles, 15 pass deflections and five interceptions during his time with the Broncos, according to Sporting News. He earned All-Mountain West Second Team honors after making four interceptions last season, according to Bleacher Report. Boise State made the first round of the 2024 CFP with Earby on the roster, according to Sporting News.
Impact On Michigan’s Roster
Michigan’s tight end room has lacked a clear top option this season, according to Sporting News, making Bauman’s addition immediately relevant to the offense. Earby would add experienced depth to a secondary that could use reinforcements as the Wolverines navigate Big Ten play.
Michigan enters the week 3-2 overall and has started Big Ten play 0-2 under first-year coach Kyle Whittingham, its worst conference start since 2014, according to Bleacher Report. The Wolverines host Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing on CBS, according to Sporting News.
What’s Next
The case moves to a preliminary injunction hearing on Nov. 4, where a judge will decide whether Bauman and Earby keep their eligibility beyond the temporary order, according to Sporting News. The NCAA’s rule remains under challenge in other courts around the country, according to Bleacher Report, meaning the outcome in Michigan’s case could factor into how similar disputes are argued elsewhere.
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