Several high-profile high school football transfers have been settled not eligible in the state Texas over the past few weeks. Coaches are able to hold their former athletes hostage by simply checking a box.
It’s not quite to simple and I’m not saying that’s what happened in either of the two recent cases, but they are an example of the broken system.
Texas high school football coaches are (not so) indirectly responsible for whether an athlete is allowed to play. The entire process begins with a simplistic form that does not require a truthful answer.
John Meredith III and Colton Nussmeier were both ruled ineligible to compete at a new school in 2026 in the past few weeks. Meredith is a five-star cornerback. He is ranked as one of the top five players in the 2027 recruiting class. Nussmeier, the younger brother of Garrett Nussmeier, is a four-star quarterback ranked as one of the top 15 players at his position.
Meredith transferred from Euless Trinity High School to North Crowley High School for her senior season. Nussmeier transferred from Flower Mound High School to Denton Ryan High School for his senior season.
Both players were told they cannot play next season with their respective new programs. The The district committees in each of their new districts decided they were transferring for athletic purposes onlywhich the University Interscholastic League (the governing body for high school sports in the Lone Star State) does not allow.
Nussmeier and Meredith both have the option of appealing the decision to the UIL’s state executive committee, but rarely is a DEC decision overturned. Appeals were rejected at a rate of 92% in the last year.
What is the previous sports participation form?
This is where the process can get messy. Let’s focus on Nussmeier.
The son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier technically did not lose his DEC vote. The Denton Independent School District Committee split right down the middle at 3-3. As a result of a tie, the ruling refers back to the ‘Prior Athletic Participation Form’. The form stated that he was transferring for athletic reasons only, so he was deemed ineligible.
However, the form is completed by the head coach of the school from which the athlete has moved. In this case, Flower Mound.
Head coach Mike Alexander said he had no evidence or documentation against Nussmeier, nor does he have a problem with Colton Nussmeier or his family. He simply felt obligated from an integrity standpoint to check the box of yes, he was moving for athletic reasons. The checked box was ultimately the deciding factor after the vote was 3-3.
Former coaches can determine whether an athlete should be eligible or not.
Is that fair? The answer depends on who you ask. Nussmeier and his family would say no. The same for Meredith and co.
Haltom football coach Jason Tucker says yes.
“The system now set up by the UIL is a good one. It’s a lot more simple than it’s made out to be. If someone at the school the athlete is leaving has reason to believe the student left for athletic purposes, they simply disclose that to the PAPF. Then there’s a DEC meeting where the DEC listens to both sides and votes. It’s that simple, really.”
He explained his school’s process to the Dallas News. It’s not super complicated.
“If our coaches at Haltom can say yes to both of the following two questions, then we mark athletic purposes on our PAPFs. Do you honestly think the student left for athletic purposes? Could you reasonably explain this at a DEC meeting? If a student simply transfers and there has been zero friction with the student-athlete and no other school is known for recruiting PAPF.”
There is only one problem. Coaches don’t always tell the truth, which sometimes benefits the athlete.
“The only problem you run into with the current system is when ‘old school’ coaches refuse to answer truthfully about PAPF questions and tacitly allow kids to transfer for athletic purposes. This undermines the entire system. You’ll hear coaches rationalize lying on these PAPFs with terms like, ‘I wouldn’t hurt the kid,’ ‘why would I have another option,’ or ‘why should I have’ option for’ here, then I will sign them.’ “
But it goes both ways! A coach may also say that an athlete’s decision to transfer was for athletic purposes only, even if it was not. This often forces the player in question to switch back to where they started being eligible. It’s a slippery slope.
That doesn’t appear to be what happened to Nussmeier or Meredith. There is no ill will. What if there was…? So what?
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