Former Tennessee Player Zeigler Drops NCAA Eligibility Appeal, Lawsuit Continues

Zakai Zeigler, former University of Tennessee basketball player, has voluntarily dropped his federal appeal seeking a fifth year of college eligibility after a judge denied his request for a preliminary injunction. Zeigler's lawsuit challenged the NCAA's redshirt rule, arguing that athletes should have name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for all five years allowed under the eligibility window, but the court ruled he did not meet the legal standard for injunctive relief. Despite the setback, Zeigler's legal team remains committed to pursuing the core legal issues in trial court. Meanwhile, Zeigler is transitioning to a professional career and will participate in the NBA Summer League with the Detroit Pistons. Over four seasons at Tennessee, Zeigler averaged 11.3 points and 5.4 assists, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in his senior year. His attorneys expressed optimism about his basketball future while continuing to challenge the NCAA's eligibility rules in court.