Gadsden County players avoid suspension, must transfer schools

Leo Torres
Gadsden County News Service

A hearing was held at Lively Technical College Tuesday, Aug 5., where eight Gadsden County football players successfully appealed their ineligibility to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), avoiding a one-year suspension. While the players are now eligible for the 2025 season, they are not permitted to play at Gadsden County and will have to take their talents to another FHSAA school, according to WCTV’s Alison Posey.
Despite the players’ desire to remain at Gadsden County, the Section Appeals Committee confirmed the ruling with a 4-2 vote. Though the players will be thankful to avoid a suspension, the ruling adds salt to the wound after the team was already barred from postseason play, another decision the school plans to appeal.
Gadsden County fell short in the 2A state championship last season in a narrow 38-27 defeat to Cocoa High School. The future looked bright for the Jaguars as they prepared to make another run under head coach Russell Ellington. Things quickly went south as the FHSAA sent a letter to Gadsden County principal Marlon Ball, detailing multiple violations related to student-athlete eligibility and registration.
The eight athletes, considered “non-traditional” students, were improperly registered by the school according to the FHSAA’s findings. According to the FHSAA, “Non-Traditional students are students who are not enrolled in and do not physically attend the school at which they participate. These include home education students, Personalized Education Program (PEP) students, charter school students, approved alternative/special school students, private school students, virtual school students, and traditional public school students.”
In addition to the school being banned from the playoffs, the eight players were deemed ineligible, and Gadsden County was fined $21,500. Ellington, who led the Jaguars to a 12-2 record in 2024, was given a one-year suspension and a $5,000 forfeiture of salary, both of which he plans to appeal later this month.
Gadsden County will kick its season off Aug. 22 against Tift County.