Multiple high-profile high school football transfers have been ruled ineligible in the state of Texas over the last few weeks. Coaches are able to hold their former athletes hostage by simply checking a box.
It is not quite that simple and am not saying that is what happened in either of the two most recent cases, but they are an example of the broken system.
Texas high school football coaches are (not so) indirectly responsible for whether or not an athlete will be allowed to play. The entire process begins with an oversimplified form that does not require a truthful response.
Texas high school football players cannot transfer only for athletics.
John Meredith III and Colton Nussmeier were both ruled ineligible to compete at a new school in 2026 in the last few weeks. Meredith is a five-star cornerback. He is ranked one of the top-five players in the recruiting Class of 2027. Nussmeier, the little 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 his senior season. Nussmeier transferred from Flower Mound High School to Denton Ryan High School for his senior season.
Both players were told that they cannot play next season with their respective new programs. The District Executive Committees in each of their new districts determined that the they only transferred for athletic purposes, which the University Interscholastic League (the governing body of high school sports in the Lone Star State) does not allow.
Nussmeier and Meredith both have the opportunity to appeal the ruling to the UIL’s state executive committee but rarely does a DEC decision get overturned. Appeals were denied at a rate of 92% in the last year.
What is the Previous Athletic Participation Form?
This is where the process can get messy. Lets 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 the tie, the ruling refers back to the ‘Previous Athletic Participation Form.’ The form stated that he only transferred for athletic reasons so he was deemed ineligible.
However, the form is filled out by the head coach of the school from which the athlete transferred. In this case, Flower Mound.
Head coach Mike Alexander said that he did not have any 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 for yes, he moved for athletic reasons. The checked box ultimately became the final determining factor after the 3-3 vote.
Previous coaches can determine whether or not an athlete should be eligible.
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 set up now by the UIL is a good one. This is way more simple than it is made out to be. If anyone at the school the athlete leaves has reason to believe the student left for athletic purposes, then they simply state that on the PAPF. Then there is a DEC meeting where the DEC listens to both sides and votes. It’s really that simple.”
He explained his school’s process to the Dallas News. It is not super complicated.
“At Haltom, if our coaches can say yes to both of the following two questions, then we mark athletic purposes on our PAPFs. Do you honestly believe the student left for athletic purposes? Could you reasonably explain this in a DEC meeting? If a student simply moves, and there has been zero friction with the student-athlete, and no known recruiting form another school, then we do not mark athletic purposes on the PAPF.”
There is only one issue. Coaches don’t always tell the truth, which sometimes goes in favor of the athlete.
“The only problem you run into with the current system is when coaches at the ‘old school’ refuse to answer questions truthfully on the PAPF and tacitly allow kids to transfer for athletic purposes. This undermines the entire system. You will hear coaches rationalize lying on these PAPFs with terms like, ‘I didn’t want to hurt the kid,’ ‘Why should I hurt someone else’s opportunity’ or ‘If they don’t want to be here, then I will sign off on them.’ ”
But it goes both ways! A coach can also say that an athlete’s decision to transfer was only for athletic purposes even if it wasn’t. That often forces the player in question to transfer back to where they started to be eligible. It is a slippery slope.
That does not appear to be what happened with Nussmeier or Meredith. There is no ill will. What if there was…? Then what?