Potential exists for more eligibility

By Jordan Moore on September 29, 2009 3:25 PM | 4 Comments

Stafon Johnson, Hebron Fangupo and Marshall Jones could ultimately receive some positive news in the face of their devastating season-ending injuries.

USC's compliance office determined today that all three injured players have the potential of getting an extra year of eligibility because of a medical hardship.

According to NCAA rules, players can apply for a "medical hardship" to receive an extra year of eligibility if they play in 30 percent of the team's games (fractions are rounded up) during the first half of the season and then suffer serious season-ending injuries.

So, in the cases of Johnson, Fangupo and Jones, all played in either three or four games, which qualifies them for a hardship since 30 percent of a 12 game season is 3.6, which is rounded up to four games. A bowl game would make the season 13 games, and 30 percent of that is 3.9, which is again rounded up to four games. Either way, all three players meet the criteria for a medical hardship under the NCAA rules.

If the three players want to receive a medical hardship and an extra year of eligibility, the application process would begin either later this year or in the early offseason. The NCAA would rule on each of their cases soon thereafter.

Most recently, Jeff Byers, Josh Pinkard and Hershel Dennis each applied for and received medical hardships -- and consequently an extra year of eligibility -- because of season-ending injuries in previous years.

University Southern California Trojans

Potential exists for more eligibility

Potential exists for more eligibility

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