WASHINGTON (WFLA/WRC) – A potentially college-bound high school football player has been ruled ineligible to play because he is homeless.

Jamal Speaks has an offer to play at Temple University.

But the D.C. public school system has ruled him ineligible to play because they can’t verify his address.

Speaks faced a similar problem two years ago, but the state athletic association ruled that he was allowed to play because he proved he was homeless.

Speaks said his father is deceased and he doesn’t get along with his mother.

A local city council person said this is important not just because Speaks want to play, but because playing football provides him with opportunity.

“I can’t even practice right now, participate. I already proved I’m a homeless resident. My father deceased. I don’t, me and my mom, we don’t really talk like that, like, I don’t talk to my mom,” Speaks said.

All of this is leaving his football career and future in limbo.