Since this was Stafon Johnson’s last year of eligibility at USC, and we’ve now heard there’s a good chance he’ll make “full recovery”, the question is, will he be able to play for the Trojans next year?
(Johnson has exhausted eligibility, will NCAA grant him another year?)
Ben Malcolmson of USC’s official football blog has potentially good news on that front tonight, reporting that the school’s compliance office determined today that Johnson indeed has the “potential of getting an extra year of eligibility because of a medical hardship.”
Since Johnson played in at least 30 percent of the team’s games this season and then suffered a season-ending injury, he meets the official criteria to apply for an extra year of NCAA eligibility.
It is not known yet if Johnson wants to go through the application process, which he could initiate later this year or during the offseason. But the precedent for successfully obtaining an extra year of eligibility via medical hardship has been set at USC, as Jeff Byers, Josh Pinkard and Hershel Dennis each recently applied for and received medical hardships.
So if Johnson wants to continue his college career next season, all indications are he’s a virtual lock to get another year of eligibility with the Trojans.
Now the bigger question is, will he actually recover to the extent we’ve been led to believe? I’ll have more on that shortly.
1:04 am on September 30th, 2009
I hope for the best for his recovery. However, if he is ready to play next season, will it do him better to stay an extra year at USC or to try his talents at the next level, be it NFL, CFL, or even UFL? Practice squad money is better than most of us who are not living in Compton will ever see.
1:17 am on September 30th, 2009
“Since Johnson played in at least 30 percent of the team’s games this season ”
I’m pretty sure the 30% is the upper limit, not a qualifier.
7:03 am on September 30th, 2009
Yeah I’m pretty sure it’s less than 30%
8:40 am on September 30th, 2009
Stan and Spencer are right. HOWEVA, the NCAA has been rather generous about this ceiling, frequently granting the hardship waiver to players who have played in 4 of 12 games–their rationale is “rounding 33% down to 30%.” Stafon, then, absolutely ought to apply for a waiver.
9:47 am on September 30th, 2009
Was Johnson a redshirt senior? If so it’s going to be difficult to get that sixth year. I think the last time someone tried was Ben Mauck at Cincinnati after transferring from Wake Forest.
1:11 pm on September 30th, 2009
he should get the year back!!!!hell jordan shipley is a 6th year senior give me a break
5:04 pm on September 30th, 2009
charles alexander and kirston pittman of lsu both got to play as 6th year seniors