The NCAA has upheld its denial of a transfer waiver for Illinois tight end Luke Ford for immediate eligibility, the Illini athletics program announced on Friday.

The NCAA initially denied Ford's appeal for a hardship waiver in April. Upholding that denial means Ford must sit out the 2019 season before earning eligibility in 2020 after a year in residence.

"No further appeal is avaialble, and the decision is final and binding," Illinois said in a release.

The top prospect in the state of Illinois' Class of 2018, Ford has three years of eligibility remaining.

Ford said he wanted to transfer from Georgia, where he had a shot to start this season, to be closer to his family, including his grandfather, whom Ford said was struggling with his health.

Sources told Illini Inquirer that the NCAA told Illinois that it denied Ford's waiver because Champaign is outside a 100-mile radius from Carterville, Ford’s hometown, and that his grandpa isn’t a nuclear family member. Both are requirements for the waiver, but the NCAA has been inconsistent and not transparent with these rulings. Illinois felt it had a strong case, bolstered by legal representation after Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (transferred from Georgia) and Miami quarterback Tate Martell (transferred from Ohio State) were granted waivers for immediate eligibility.

Illini coach Lovie Smith said during the sproing that Illinois felt it had "a pretty good shot" at getting the waiver approved, and Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman told Illini Inquirer during the spring that Ford's case for a waiver was "strong," and Georgia had supported the waiver, Whitman said.

"I think it’s strong," Whitman said. "Certainly, you got a lot of reasons for him to come back to his home state. He unquestionably was going to have a great opportunity to be on the field and contribute at Georgia. Generally, that’s the thing they’re looking for. They don’t want people who are making a sport-based decision. ‘Well, I can go to this school and play there. I have a better opportunity to contribute.’ Certainly, that’s not the case here. Luke was going to have every opportunity to be a star at Georgia. So there are a lot of off-the-field reasons that made sense for him to come here. We’re hopeful that the NCAA will see it that way as well.”

Added Smith: "There’s a reason we feel that way. There’s a reason Luke came back. Not just to play football here. There are some family things. We’ll present all that, and hopefully, we’ll get good news.”

Ford, a top-60 overall in the country and the No. 3 tight end prospect in the Class of 2018, will eventually a significant boost at a position that produced just 11 receptions for 98 yards last season. He practiced during spring ball, but his reps were limited as Illinois made sure the rest of its tight ends would be ready in case Ford's waiver was denied. Ford, who played in all 13 games for Georgia last season and had one catch of four yards, is the most talented, dynamic tight end on the roster and would have likely started.

Now, sophomore Daniel Barker (9 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD last season) will likely start with senior Bobby Walker and junior Griffin Palmer contributing at the position.