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Tennessee's Alberto Osuna pens letter to NCAA to grant him immediate eligibility

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh03/10/25griffin_mcveigh
Alberto Osuna. Credit: Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Alberto Osuna. Credit: Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Alberto Osuna is still waiting for his chance to play for Tennessee this season. As of Monday, Osuna has not been granted eligibility by the NCAA after a lengthy battle. Tennessee is set to begin SEC play on Friday and wanted to get on the field, a letter has been penned to the NCAA by Osuna.

“The NCAA makes over a billion dollars annually off the backs of student-athletes,” the last portion of the letter says. “It claims that it is there to protect and serve student-athletes and to act in a manner that is ‘fair and inclusive’ for us. How is denying me the opportunity to play in my final season fair and inclusive?

“This is your opportunity to prioritize the well-being of student-athletes. Grant me my eligibility because it’s the right thing to do. Because doing so would align with the principles of student-athlete welfare that you say your organization prioritizes more than anything else. Because it will put me in the same position as all the others who get to play. Because it will allow me to help my family. And, because no one is harmed by letting me play.”

Osuna is in this position thanks to the lawsuit that granted Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia an extra season of eligibility. Playing at the Junior College level meant Pavia could return for another year and now, the ripple effects are being felt across multiple collegiate sports.

The last three seasons have been spent at North Carolina and even went to the College World Series with the Tar Heels in 2024. Osuna spent most of his time as a designated hitter, slashing .281/.376/.537 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs.

After the season, Osuna was thought to be out of eligibility and transferred to a Division II Tampa. But after the Pavia ruling, there have been nothing but questions asked — still without many answers.

“If you were going to oppose my wavier all along, who did you tell me to file one? Why did you allow me to enter the transfer portal? Why did you let all of the student-athletes in their last season of competition at a Division II institution enter the portal? Why would you not provide clarity when I asked for it? Why has the NCAA not yet released the Q&A or other guidance for the Blanket Waiver? Why do you think the University of Tennessee told me about the A&M when they recruited me?”

Tennessee is a perfect 16-0 this season with West Georgia next on the schedule Tuesday night. Florida will then head to Tallahassee for the beginning of conference play, hoping to win a second consecutive SEC regular season championship.