South Carolina linebacker Bam Martin-Scott spent his first two seasons of college football at Dodge City Community College in Kansas before joining the Gamecocks for his final years of college eligibility. The only problem is that because Martin-Scott played two years at a JUCO, he does not have any eligibility left.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia dealt with the same thing when it came to the NCAA as he applied for another year of eligibility and was initially denied. However, after filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, saying that the years in JUCO did not allow him to make any NIL money, which was allowed starting in 2021.
Since Pavia won his lawsuit, he has been granted a temporary injunction to allow him to play an extra year of college, and this is also being granted to other student-athletes who meet the requirements of this lawsuit.
This lawsuit could include Martin Scott, but there is one thing that might not allow him to get another year of eligibility. When Martin-Scott started at Dodge City, it was in 2019, whereas Pavia started at his JUCO in 2020, making his situation different than the Vanderbilt quarterback.
When speaking at a Friday press conference, Martin-Scott expressed how much he would like to be in a Gamecock uniform for one last season next year, but it all comes down to the numbers.
"We don't know yet because my case is a little different than Pavia's with me being older," Martin-Scott said. "Still going through the process. I would love to come back. I love this program. Like the trajectory, it's going on. I would love to come back."
Martin-Scott has improved each year he has played with the Gamecocks after redshirting in 2021. The Indiana native had his best season in 2024 with 65 total tackles, 39 solo tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, two passes defended, and 2.5 sacks.
If the senior linebacker is not able to return to South Carolina next season, he will suit up in the Garnet and Black for one final time on December 31, 2024, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against No. 20 Illinois at 3:00 p.m. EST on ABC.