FHSAA grants provisional eligibility to Florida high school football player

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is granting provisional eligibility to Lecanto senior Raheim Rushing pending the outcome of an appeal regarding sanctions handed down to the Panthers’ football program.

Rivals obtained an official statement from FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon regarding the granting of eligibility of Rushing for Friday’s regular season finale against Madison County.

“FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon is granting provisional eligibility to Lecanto football player, Raheim Rushing pending the outcome of his appeal hearing before the FHSAA Board of Directors, schedule for Sunday, November 2, 2025. This allows Raheim to play in Lecanto’s game against Madison County on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Raheim’s eligibility for the remainder of the season will be determined based on the Board’s decision following the appeal hearing.“

Per the self-report letter obtained by Rivals, pending an appeal, the FHSAA in their ‘Findings of Fact’ was notified on Oct. 7 of a student-athlete living with a football coach at Lecanto High School.

What Lecanto ended up discovering, the per the self-report, was that Rushing had been living with Panthers assistant coach R.J. Pollard since 2023.

The FHSAA had found Lecanto in violation of Policy 36.4.2.7:

36.4.2.7 Living on a full- or part-time basis, regardless of whether rent is paid, with any school employee, athletic department staff member, representative of the school’s athletic interests, unless legal guardianship appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction has been obtained.

Among the sanctions, pending an appeal, handed down by the FHSAA to Lecanto included forfeiture of wins against West Port, Gainesville, Crystal River, Citrus and Lyman. Lecanto was also fined monetary sanctions of $1,050 in addition to the forfeitures and Rushing, Pollard were both suspended for one calendar year.

Lecanto listed a number of corrective measures to be taken, per the self-report which included the following:

1. “Termination of all football coaching duties in regards to RJ Pollard.
2. Notification was made to Citrus County School District Administration.- Bobby Verlatto
3. A full internal review was conducted, including verification of residency documentation.
4. The FHSAA Office (Jordan Starks) was contacted to report the findings and to request guidance regarding next steps and potential eligibility implications.
5. Lecanto High School has implemented an additional staff disclosure verification step within its annual athletic clearance process to prevent future omissions of this nature. A signed statement to accompany all mandatory policy 36 training addressing specific addressing this issue. These training will be documented and precede the start of every season”

Lecanto was heading into Friday’s game with a 6-3 record and a chance to qualify for the Class 4A playoffs. The Panthers as of today would be the No. 8 seed in 4A, Region 2. With the forfeitures, if they stand, drop to 1-8 on the season.

We will have more on this story as information is gathered

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