Why?
We have done it many times
The rule says that if you enter in the fall term you count against the current year. If you enter after the fall term, you can count against the current year or the next year. Grad transfers are subject to the same rules, there aren't any exceptions for them other than not having to sit a year.
15.5.6.3 Initial CountersFootball (Also see Bylaw 15.02.3.1). [FBS/FCS]
15.5.6.3.1 Recruited Student-Athlete Entering in Fall Term, Aided in First Year. [FBS/FCS] A
student-athlete recruited (see Bylaw 15.02.8) by the awarding institution who enters in the fall term and
receives institutional financial aid (based in any degree on athletics ability) during the first academic year in
residence shall be an initial counter for that year in football. Therefore, such aid shall not be awarded if the
institution has reached its limit on the number of initial counters prior to the award of institutional financial
aid to the student-athlete. (Revised: 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)
15.5.6.3.2 Recruited Student-Athlete Entering After Fall Term, Aided in First Year. [FBS/FCS] A
student-athlete recruited (per Bylaw 15.02.8) by the awarding institution who enters after the first term of
the academic year and immediately receives institutional financial aid (based in any degree on athletics
ability) shall be an initial counter for either the current academic year (if the institutions annual limit has
not been reached) or the next academic year. The student-athlete shall be included in the institutions total
counter limit during the academic year in which the aid was first received. (Revised: 1/15/11 effective 8/1/11)