- Former Fresno State receiver Jalen Saunders will make his Oklahoma debut against Texas. (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE)
Oklahoma wide receiver Jalen Saunders, who was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection last season at Fresno State, was declared eligible to play immediately on Wednesday after the NCAA changed an earlier ruling regarding his 2012 eligibility.
In September, Oklahoma announced that the NCAA had denied Saunders’ appeal for a hardship waiver as a transfer, meaning that Saunders would have to sit out the entire 2012 season as a transfer.
But after the Sooners appealed that NCAA decision, based on the fact that Fresno State had changed coaches following the 2011 season, the NCAA changed its ruling on Wednesday.
It makes Saunders eligible to play in Saturday’s game against Texas.
“He’s played a lot of football and played it well,” Stoops said in quotes provided by the school, according to NBCSports.com. “We’re hopeful that he will be able to play (on Saturday). He’s quick, got a great sense of space and the ability to get open.”
As a sophomore in 2011, Saunders led Fresno State in receptions (50), receiving yards (1,065), receiving touchdowns (12) and total touchdowns (14, two of them rushing).