The latest on Auburn transfer Antwuan Jackson

Former Auburn defensive lineman Antwuan Jackson, the half-brother of South Carolina linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams, saw his appeal to Auburn to lift restrictions on his transfer denied Friday.

Jackson, who was redshirted last season with the Tigers, is blocked by Auburn from transferring to any other SEC school as well as Clemson, Ohio State, Mercer and Georgia Southern. USC was one of the SEC schools Jackson was highly interested in, but now he’ll have to take the junior college route if he wants to land there or anywhere else in the SEC.

“He’s vetting some JUCOs he might attend in Mississippi,” said his mother, Darnisha Allen-Jackson. “He is weighing all options. He’s not sure if he wants to sit out a year. He redshirted last year and he misses playing the game. So, he’s weighing all of his options. He should know something by the first week of July.”

In many cases when a player is looking for a junior college, a major program will “place” him so that it can get him back after his time there. That won’t be the case with Jackson.

“We are acting on our own,” Allen-Jackson said. “Due to SEC restrictions by Auburn, he hasn’t been able to talk to USC coaches or any SEC coaches. He is truly staying open.”

Asked if Auburn gave a reason for blocking her son’s access to other SEC schools plus the other four on the list, Allen-Jackson said: “Not at all. It seems very petty because Antwuan requested his transfer. Seems like the one year of punishment should be enough.”

USC is getting one transfer from Auburn in athlete Stephen Davis Jr. He, too, was blocked from other SEC schools and will walk and sit out the season. And the Gamecocks could be a factor with another Auburn transfer, defensive back and one-time USC commit Marlon Character. He is not blocked from transferring to another SEC school but has not commented publicly on his plans.

This story was originally published June 10, 2017 at 1:50 PM with the headline "The latest on Auburn transfer Antwuan Jackson."