Junior running back J.D. King is eligible to play for the Georgia Southern football team this season, announced via GS football’s twitter Monday afternoon.

{{tncms-inline account=”Ga. Southern Football” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Full story to come, but for now …<a href="https://twitter.com/18_JDK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@18_jdk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GATA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GATA</a> <a href="https://t.co/IVE2DKNswv">pic.twitter.com/IVE2DKNswv</a></p>— Ga. Southern Football (@GSAthletics_FB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GSAthletics_FB/status/1163583887483777026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2019</a></blockquote>” id=”https://twitter.com/GSAthletics_FB/status/1163583887483777026″ type=”twitter”}}

King was first at Oklahoma State where he played in 10 games, collecting two touchdowns as well as rushing 43 times for 153 yards in the 2018 season. He was also OSU’s second-leading rusher in the 2017 season. 

The junior transferred to GS in January and participated in spring practice as well as being a full participant in fall camp. He was expected to sit out the 2019 season per NCAA transfer rules, but that was pending appeal which was submitted July 22.

Per King’s bio on the football website, the appeal went through on Aug. 19 and he “was granted immediate eligibility for the 2019 season by NCAA.”

“I am very humble and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Georgia Southern football family,” King said in a press release. “I would first like to thank God for his given talents as well as the NCAA for granting me this eligibility. I would also like to thank Georgia Southern’s compliance office, Coach Lunsford, Coach Foster for his dedication, my teammates, my mother, my father and anyone who has contributed to helping with this matter. Thank you!”

The running back had to meet three different criteria to be eligible to play in the 2019 season. King’s original request, submitted March 29, was denied because he only met two of the three criteria, but the appeal was submitted July 22. OSU’s Athletic Department provided a letter on the transfer’s behalf supporting his decision to leave the program which was included in the original waiver application.

“So happy for the young man, his family, and his teammates,” Head Coach Chad Lunsford said in a tweet. “No doubt in my mind he was going to be great for the Football Team regardless of the decision … but now 2019 is The Year of the King.”

Kaitlin Sells, The George-Anne Managing Sports Editor, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu