UIL denies Denton Ryan four-star quarterback’s appeal for varsity eligibility
Denton Ryan four-star senior quarterback Colton Nussmeier was denied varsity eligibility by the University Interscholastic League on Thursday in a 4-1 vote.
The UIL State Executive Committee upheld a District 3-5A Division I Executive Committee ruling that Nussmeier transferred for athletic purposes. Nussmeier, a George commit, still has varsity eligibility at Flower Mound Marcus, his previous school.
During the meeting, the family spoke about taking the matter to court to overturn the SEC decision.
Nussmeier is the second high-profile Dallas-Fort Worth recruit to be denied an appeal Thursday, as North Crowley five-star John Meredith III, a Texas pledge, was also not granted eligibility.
Nussmeier is 247Sports’ No. 12 ranked quarterback in the nation and the No. 2 ranked quarterback in Texas. He could play at Flower Mound Marcus, a private school, or an out of state public school.
Nussmier has a high profile family, as he is the younger brother of Garrett Nussmeier, a former LSU quarterback who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. Their father, Doug Nussmeier, is the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.
Denton ISD athletic director Joey Florence, who is set to retire after a career spanning more than 30 years, said Flower Mound Marcus coach Mike Alexander should not have marked a transfer for athletic purposes due to a lack of evidence.
During the SEC hearing, Alexander admitted that there was no evidence to back up his original claim but still felt obligated to report that he believed the transfer was for athletic purposes.
He then backtracked on his stance and said the move wasn’t for athletic purposes, saying new circumstances introduced during the meeting changed his mind.
The unfortunate reality for Colton Nussmeier, is that Alexander’s original decision is what stripped his eligibility away. The DEC vote was a 3-3 tie and the tiebreaker on whether to rule him ineligible falls to the previous coach’s decision on the PAPF.
The Nussmeier family said the move was for family reasons, which included wanting Colton Nussmier to be around a diverse group of people.
In 2025, Denton Ryan went 12-2 before falling to Aledo in a Class 5A Division I regional final. In 2026, the Raiders will be the clear favorite to win the District 3-5A Division I championship, as the Aledo Bearcats are moving to Class 6A.
Colton Nussmeier did not play the full 2025 season with an injury in Novemeber. Marcus tallied a 5-4 record and missed the playoffs with a 3-4 District 5-6A performance.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM.
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