Mississippi State's Zach Arnett on Geor'Quarius Spivey NCAA ruling: 'All the adults failed him'

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Zach Arnett said Saturday he's unsure if the NCAA's decision to deem transfer tight end Geor'Quarius Spivey ineligible this season is final. However, it was apparent after MSU's season-opening 48-7 win against Southeastern Louisiana that Arnett isn't pleased with the decision.

"For an organization whose mission statement says it's all about the well being and the betterment of the student athlete, all the adults failed him on this one," Arnett said. "That is a gigantic blow to our football team and our offense. The blow that is to us, that is a fraction of the blow it is to Spivey and his family . . .

"He's achieved the ultimate goal of going to higher education and earning his four-year degree, only to be stripped of his final year of eligibility is — I've probably got to watch what I say. It's a travesty. He and his family shouldn't have to go through this."

Spivey announced Thursday via social media that he had been informed by a coach that the NCAA ruled he is not eligible to play.

Spivey claimed he was told during his transfer process that he would be eligible to play as a grad transfer at any school because he had graduated from TCU in December. His decision to transfer was delayed due to TCU playing in the College Football Playoff national title game on Jan. 9 and classes starting on Jan. 13, he wrote.

Spivey said he was rushed into classes by an academic adviser who no longer works at TCU. He claims he was told he had to be in classes in case he elected to remain at TCU, though he said he was transferring "no matter what" because he wanted to play at MSU with teammates he already had a bond with.

"It just kind of sucks that the NCAA is taking that away from him and not let him be out there with us," senior quarterback Will Rogers said.

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Despite the ruling, Spivey was on MSU's sideline wearing his jersey. Arnett praised the way the tight end has stayed involved since the news, going as far as offering to help on the scout team during game preparation.

"That says a lot about how he has grown and matured," Rogers said.

Spivey, a native of Monroe, Louisiana, started his collegiate career in 2018 at MSU. He transferred to TCU ahead of his junior season in 2021 as Mississippi State was running Mike Leach's Air Raid offense, which didn't use tight ends.

He returned to MSU this offseason as Kevin Barbay took over at offensive coordinator with a more balanced attack. Spivey took part in most August practices and was listed as a starter alongside Georgia transfer Ryland Goede on MSU's depth chart.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Zach Arnett, Will Rogers react to Geor'Quarius Spivey NCAA ruling