SEC to vote on transfer rule

The Southeastern Conference will vote on a proposal at its spring meetings next week that would lift all conference restrictions on athletes who want to transfer from one league member to another if their original school receives a postseason ban, according to a copy of the proposal obtained by USA TODAY. The proposal, which is being co-sponsored by Florida and Texas A&M, also imposes a significant financial penalty on schools that have been banned from the postseason in football or basketball by withholding all postseason revenue from the NCAA, SEC or bowl games that could be worth millions of dollars a year. If enacted, the rule will result in the immediate eligibility of Florida receiver Van Jefferson, who transferred from Mississippi. This proposal accounts for why Florida coach Dan Mullen told re- porters recently that the school has yet to apply for Jefferson’s immediate eligibility waiver, as other non-SEC schools that took Ole Miss transfers have done. Because Jefferson transferred within the league, the SEC commissioner would need to grant a waiver under the current setup. The new rule essentially would mean any school that receives a postseason ban could more easily lose players to SEC rivals “provided other NCAA and SEC eligibility requirements are met,” according to the literature distributed to SEC schools. — Dan Wolken

❚ Clemson backup quarterback Hunter Johnson is transferring, leaving the Tigers with three scholarship quarterbacks. The school confirmed the decision in an announcement Monday. Johnson, a former five-star recruit from Brownsburg, Ind., completed eight of 14 passes for 85 yards and one touchdown and one interception in the spring game.