Five 'Huskers granted medical redshirts
Tailback Evans, QB Crouch among those given extra year
Posted: Thursday June 04, 1998 01:35 PM
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Running back DeAngelo Evans will get an extra year of eligibility (Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport) |
LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) -- Five Nebraska football players, including running back DeAngelo Evans and quarterback Eric Crouch, have been
given an extra year of eligibility by the Big 12 Conference after suffering serious injuries.
Under NCAA rules, athletes have five years to complete their four years of eligibility. Many freshmen often sit out of competition, or "redshirt," their first year on campus.
A medical hardship wipes out the injury year so it does not count against their eligibility, said Al Papik, senior associate athletic director at Nebraska.
Evans was the Cornhuskers' second-leading leading rusher (776 yards) in 1996 as a true freshman. He suffered a groin injury that kept him out of practice and competition for 16 months.
The ruling means Evans, who would have been a junior this fall, will be counted as a sophomore in terms of eligibility.
"We won't have to count the '97 season as one of his four seasons of competition," Papik said Thursday.
Evans shared the top I-back position for the Cornhuskers coming out of spring practice. Others listed as co-No. 1 were Correll Buckhalter and Dan Alexander.
The trio will compete for the starting spot in fall practice, coach Frank Solich said.
Crouch, who had injuries to an ankle and nerve damage to a calf last season as a freshman, will again be listed as a freshman in terms of eligibility.
The former Millard North High School all-stater from Omaha came out of spring drills listed No. 2 and is expected to challenge Bobby Newcombe for the starting job this fall.
Three other football players receiving medical hardships also redshirted as freshmen in 1996 and were injured in 1997.
They are wingback John Gibson, a former Papillion-LaVista all-stater who injured a knee; linebacker Brandon Wardyn, a former St. Paul star who injured a knee; and defensive tackle Luis
Almanzar, a Jersey City, New Jersey, recruit who suffered a groin injury similar to Evans.
Todd Smith, a guard on the Nebraska basketball team, and Amy Dillman, a woman gymnast, also received hardship rulings, according to the school.
Smith suffered leg fractures as a freshman in 1997 and will be listed as a freshman in eligibility next season.
Dillman dislocated a knee and will be listed as a junior in eligibility.
Medical hardships most often are given to players who are injured or ill in the first half of the season and were unable to compete in at least 20 percent of the regular-season games, Papik said.
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