SEC INSIDER

SEC rules DB Smith can transfer to UGA

The Sports Xchange

August 12, 2016 at 3:42 pm.

Maurice Smith is headed to Georgia. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Maurice Smith is headed to Georgia. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Southeastern Conference on Friday approved a conditional waiver that allows former Alabama defensive back Maurice Smith to go to Georgia as a graduate transfer and be eligible to play immediately.

Alabama coach Nick Saban initially opposed allowing Smith to transfer to another SEC school, but then granted Smith a full release on Wednesday.

Even after Alabama’s release, Smith was required to have the SEC approve a waiver.

The move ended what was beginning to look like an ugly battle between Saban and new Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who had been Alabama’s defensive coordinator the past eight seasons.

“Graduate transfer rules were established with the intent to be grounded in the academic interests of the student-athlete,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “This conditional waiver permits Maurice Smith to receive financial aid to pursue his stated academic goals at the school of his choice while connecting his athletic participation directly to those goals.”

Smith never redshirted at Alabama so he has the option of playing his final season of college football either this year or next year, but it appears he will play in the 2016 season.

The SEC bylaws require a player to have two years of eligibility remaining to transfer and also require a transfer going to another conference school to be at that school for one full academic year before being eligible to play.

The waiver overrode both.

“The standard for granting waivers has been clear and compelling evidence that there is reason for allowing an exception to SEC rules,” Sankey said. “I found, among other contributing factors, that a student-athlete who graduates in three years and exhibits a strong commitment to his or her academic future provides compelling motivation to help them achieve their goals on and off the field.”

The waiver requires Smith has to enroll in Georgia’s Master of Public Health graduate program as a full-time student. He must also earn all possible Academic Progress Rate (APR) points for each term of his enrollment.

Smith played in eight of Alabama’s 15 games last season, collecting 15 tackles and no interceptions.

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