Vols' Zakai Zeigler sues for fifth year of eligibility, citing NIL pay

Field Level Media|published: Wed 21st May, 17:48 2025

Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler (5) during Senior Day presentations after a men’s college basketball game between Tennessee and South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Saturday, March 8, 2025.

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA for another year of eligibility, claiming he could lose up to $4 million in NIL money if he isn't allowed to play in 2025-26.

Zeigler's lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction allowing him to play a fifth season and arguing he will suffer irreparable harm without immediate relief, with schools currently finalizing rosters and settling NIL deals.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Zeigler's lawsuit challenges the NCAA's redshirt rule in which players are allowed to play a fifth year if they sit out a year of competition.

Zeigler played four consecutive seasons for the Volunteers from 2021-22 through 2024-25. He argues that he should get be allowed a fifth year of eligibility and its earning potential instead of being punished for not taking a redshirt year, per the News Sentinel.

"All NCAA athletes should be eligible to compete and earn NIL compensation during each year of the five-year window -- not just those selected to redshirt," the court filings state.

Zeigler filed his suit in the Eastern District of Tennessee. In it, he claims he could make between $2 million and $4 million in name, image and likeness money in 2025-26 after making $500,000 in 2024-25.

The lawsuit calls a fifth year "the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes."

Zeigler set the Tennessee career records for assists (747) and steals (251). The three-time All-SEC pick and two-time league defensive player of the year averaged 11.3 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 138 career games (83 starts).

He graduated this month from Tenneseee and plans to pursue a graduate degree.

--Field Level Media