DJ Wingfield eligibility status: Hearing date reportedly set for USC OL's case

The latest update on the eligibility case of Purdue transfer DJ Wingfield emerged on Monday afternoon. Wingfield is moving through legal proceedings in an attempt to gain eligibility at USC, where he transferred this offseason.

According to a report from Ryan Kartje of The Los Angeles Times, Wingfield’s legal case has been transferred to a new judge. That new judge denied Wingfield’s request for a temporary restraining order, which would have forced the NCAA to allow him to play.

Instead, a hearing has been set for Aug. 18. In that hearing the NCAA must show cause for why Wingfield should not get an injunction allowing him to play.

DJ Wingfield has previously hired attorney Darren Heitner in his battle to play in the upcoming 2025 season, On3 has learned. Wingfield was believed to have one season of eligibility remaining due to the NCAA waiver for players who have at least one season at a non-NCAA program.

The Purdue transfer has not been able to secure that waiver to this point, leading him to take legal action. USC coach Lincoln Riley has been in limbo waiting to learn Wingfield’s status, and he provided an update on July 24.

“No specific updates right now,” Riley said. “A process that is ongoing right now. Wish I could comment on it a little bit more, but it’s one of those that we’ve got to let it play out. But he’s been a full participant up to any limits that have been established. Looking forward to that process hopefully wrapping up here pretty quick.”

DJ Wingfield is seeking an injunction that would allow him to play this fall. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive lineman started his career at El Camino Junior College, where he played 22 games.

Wingfield transferred to New Mexico as a junior but only appeared in one game before suffering a season-ending injury. After redshirting, Wingfield played in nine games with the Lobos as a redshirt junior before transferring to Purdue in December 2023.

The offensive lineman started 12 games in 2024 at right guard for Purdue. DJ Wingfield finished with a 64.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade last year, including a 65.2 run-blocking grade and a 61.5 pass-block grade. He gave up 22 pressures, including five hits on the quarterback and three sacks.