Although Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown will miss the entirety of the 2012 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, there is some hope he will eventually have a year of eligibility restored because he’s missed nearly two entire years because of injury.
The NCAA grants players five years to complete four seasons of eligibility. Brown redshirted the 2009 season, then played only four snaps in Maryland’s second game in 2010 against Morgan State before suffering a broken collarbone, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.
SEE RELATED:
Brown played in 10 games as a sophomore last year, starting five. He was expected to start for Maryland before suffering the right knee injury during practice Tuesday evening.
Coach Randy Edsall said he’s already discussed the possibility with Brown and Brown’s father.
“When we sat down, C.J.’s dad brought that up and I said ‘That’s something that’s going through my mind,’” Edsall said. “We just have to go and check and see exactly what the rules are. Usually you have to miss two full years due to injury. He only played a few handful of plays, so I would think that that would probably count.”
While not especially common, a hardship waiver for a sixth year is not unprecedented in College Park. Defensive back Richard Taylor missed all of 2007 with a torn ACL, then played in three games in 2008 before suffering another knee injury. His request for a sixth year was approved, and he appeared in all 12 games for the Terps in 2009.
Edsall said an application to the NCAA, let alone a decision, would probably not be made until after Brown completes his fifth season.
“That’s something we’ll work with our compliance people on and continue to research,” Edsall said. “I don’t think you can apply for that until that eligibility is up, that fifth year is done. That’s something that’s in our plans.”
—- Patrick Stevens
