Ezra Christensen’s football future will be decided in a Boulder courtroom.
The Colorado defensive lineman transferred from New Mexico State in January after a breakout 2025 campaign. Since then, his eligibility for the 2026 season with the Buffs has been in question.
Christensen filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Wednesday, seeking quick relief eligibility for the upcoming football season that kicks off in less than 50 days. This came after Christensen’s NCAA waiver was canceled “erroneously,” according to his attorney.
“Ezra Christensen grew up in an orphanage in Sierra Leone (West Africa), was adopted at 16 with no knowledge of American football or NCAA rules, navigated a pandemic that wiped out his high school senior season and any access to eligibility counseling, and unknowingly allegedly started his clock at a junior college,” Christensen’s attorney Darren Heitner posted on X.
“The NCAA canceled his waiver without ever engaging with a single one of those facts. The NCAA purportedly reopened Ezra’s case after initially erroneously canceling it. But the NCAA is sitting on its hands and Ezra can’t wait any longer. We now take our fight to court to allow Ezra to play for Colorado this coming season.”
Christensen is fighting for another year of eligibility in part because he began his career at a junior college (2021-22 at San Diego Mesa). He then spent two seasons at Fresno State (2023-24) before a year at New Mexico State (2025).
Luckily for Christensen, there’s precedent to his case that could result in him being eligible for Colorado this fall.
Oklahoma State basketball player Kashie Natt was recently granted a court order to continue playing with the Cowboys after filing a lawsuit against the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. Natt also had his eligibility waiver canceled by the NCAA (like Christensen did) before being issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
“The facts here are very similar,” college sports attorney Mit Winter told DNVR. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a TRO or preliminary injunction also granted in this (Christensen’s) case.”
Natt began his career at a junior college (like Christensen did) before spending two seasons at an NAIA and then transferring to Sam Houston State for one year. On June 29, Natt requested an injunction to be eligible for another season. Exactly a week later (on July 6), Natt was permitted to fully rejoin the Oklahoma State men’s basketball team.
Winter told DNVR that a ruling typically comes in “a week to a few weeks.”
Also working in Ezra Christensen’s favor is the fact that he and Natt share the same lawyer: Darren Heitner. And just like Natt’s TRO was granted in an Oklahoma (Payne County) courtroom, Christensen’s fate will be determined in a Colorado (Boulder County) state court.
Ezra Christensen would be a massive part of Colorado’s defense if he’s granted an extra season. The 6-foot-2, 280-pounder totaled 11 TFLs and six sacks in 2025, earning first-team All-CUSA honors. He also led all FBS defensive linemen in total QB hurries (28).
If Christensen isn’t eligible for 2026, it would leave a sizable hole in one of the Buffs’ thinnest position groups.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter onΒ X.
