​The NCAA’s timing this offseason again left the Tennessee Volunteers in a tough spot, and the fallout was hardly ideal for a program hoping to maximize its roster for 2026. If the governing body had shown better timing, Tennessee might have welcomed a pivotal defensive presence back for another year this fall. Instead, the Vols find themselves without a defensive lineman who had wanted nothing more than to suit up again on Rocky Top.
The root of the missed opportunity lies in the NCAA’s new 5-for-5 rule, an eligibility provision that grants Division I athletes five years to complete five seasons. This rule, which had not been approved until late June, arrives too late to affect many program plans for the upcoming season. Had it been enacted earlier in the offseason, ideally before the 2026 NFL Draft, players like defensive lineman Jaxson Moi could have chosen to return to Tennessee for one more year.
Austin Price of VolQuest weighed in this past week on WNML’s Josh and Swain, noting that if the rule had passed six months sooner, a veteran like Moi might have opted to remain with the Volunteers for another season at defensive tackle. Such a decision could have provided Tennessee with valuable experience and depth on the interior, especially given the uncertainties that often accompany the transition between seasons and the potential impact of the draft on the Vols’ front line.
Moi himself spoke candidly in June during an appearance on WNML’s SportsTalk, expressing how meaningful it would have been to return to Tennessee. He explained that he had pursued a fifth season of eligibility in the offseason, driven by the desire to finish stronger and to make more memories with a program that he regards as a second home. “I can’t even explain how much it meant to me, being a Vol,” Moi said. “I was trying to get a fifth year and come back and play this upcoming season — just because of all the games that I missed, and with the NCAA possibly talking about passing the five for five (rule). But being a Vol, it meant everything to me. I get emotional talking about it. Just because sometimes I get in my head. I feel like I wish I would have finished a little bit stronger than I did, but I’m going to be a Vol for the rest of my life. The relationships and the friendships that I made there, they’re going to stick with me forever. And I tell my family that Tennessee is my second home. I can see myself living out in Knoxville again… I’m a Vol for life, no doubt.”
Despite Moi’s best hopes, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. He now faces an uphill climb to secure a spot on the Rams’ 53-man roster, a process that will test his perseverance and prove his durability at the professional level.
Tennessee certainly could have used Moi’s presence on the defensive line this fall, given the frequent shifts and the need for interior disruption against high-caliber offenses. However, the NCAA’s delayed decision-making, once again, undercut the Vols’ readiness and planning. This situation is a reminder of how much a single regulatory delay can ripple through a program’s roster-building efforts, affecting players’ ambitions and teams’ competitive projections.
The broader takeaway is that the college football landscape remains deeply interconnected with the NCAA’s rulemaking calendar. When timing misaligns with a program’s immediate tactical needs, the consequences are felt not just in wins and losses, but in opportunities for players who have dedicated years to a university’s football program. For Tennessee, the absence of Moi this season is one more example of a talented contributor whose potential return was curtailed by procedural delays outside the team’s control.
As the season approaches, the Vols will rely on the depth and versatility of their remaining defensive front to compensate for the loss. The broader implications for similar situations across college football underscore the importance of timely rule decisions, allowing players to chart their futures with clarity and allowing teams to plan with confidence. The hope for Tennessee—and for players with similar aspirations—remains that the NCAA’s timing will align more closely with the needs of programs and athletes in the future, enabling a smoother path for those who wish to extend their time on the field and contribute one more year to a program they proudly call home. This article originated with A to Z Sports, which published The NCAA’s bad timing prevented a Tennessee player who wanted to return from being able to play for the Vols in 2026. For the full story, visit A to Z Sports.