Appeals Court Ruling Sidelines Uiagalelei, Gross

The fifth-year seniors won't dress again unless something changes.

Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei (11) and Jacob Lane confer on the field. | Dave Sizer photo

The University of Washington football team's 13th fall practice proved noteworthy for who wasn't in attendance rather than the nearly 100 guys suited up for a short workout under cloudy skies.

Missing were defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and place-kicker Grady Gross, who recently rejoined the Huskies to take advantage of the new NCAA 5-in-5 rule, which supposedly would enable them to compete for another season after playing four and thinking they had graduated.

However on Friday in Denver, an appeals court upheld an initial decision to preclude seniors from gaining an extra season who had begun their careers in 2022 and used four years of eligibility without redshirting or seeking medical waivers.

This meant Uiagalelei and Gross will not dress for practice unless the situation changes again, according to a team spokesperson.

Uiagalelei, who started 13 games for the UW in 2025, arrived in uniform for the Huskies' third fall practice and recently had worked his way back into first-unit snaps at times during 11-on-11 team play.

He wears 46 because his number from last season, 11, now belongs to freshman edge rusher Ramzak Fruean.

UW kicker Grady Gross exchanges handshakes with a well-wisher. | Skylar Lin Visuals

As for Gross, who had handled all Husky place-kicking duties for the past three seasons, he came out for the first time for Wednesday's 11th practice. Without much trouble, he kicked a 40-yard field goal near the end of that session.

He pulled on No. 20 because Tyler Robles, a Texas State transfer, not only has his job but his 95 jersey.

The return of the two UW veterans, while providing proven talent and depth to Jedd Fisch's team, was nothing short of a little awkward, which was reason for the NCAA to attempt to limit who could come back.

With a grand gesture in the spring, Fisch made touted freshman Derek Colman-Brusa the replacement starter for Uiagalelei beginning with the first day of spring practice, lining up the first-year player opposite returning starter Elinneus Davis.

At kicker, the Huskies brought in Robles who was a second-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2025 and recently chosen to the Lou Groza Award watch list.

With the college football season beginning in two weeks, the appeals court decision could create added chaos, leading to more lawsuits, restraining orders and lot of uncertainty for players seeking that fifth season of eligibility.

Meantime, Uiagalelei and Gross didn't miss much by skipping Friday's practice.

Fisch made things interesting by gathering his players together and offering up a competition that involved Korey Rush, a quality coach defensive-line coach, and Darin Conley, a defensive tackle and a Ball State transfer, trying to catch towering punts delivered by Hunter Green.

If each was successful, the UW coaches and then the players would get the rest of the day off.

Everyone erupted in a wild celebration when each catch was made, effectively ending practice after just an hour and 15 minutes -- or half of what the Huskies normally deal with.

On Saturday, the UW next will hold a mock game and a Fan Fest event for team followers to meet the players, with the football competition beginning at 6:30 p.m.