NCAA grants UVA football players in final season an additional year of eligibility following murders

The NCAA is granting any Virginia football player who had their college eligibility expire this past season an extra year to play as a response to the shooting that killed three members of the team.

Virginia Athletic Director Carla Williams confirmed the news on Wednesday, per Greg Madia of The Daily Progress.

“The NCAA will grant any Virginia football player whose college eligibility expired this past season an extra year to play, a response to the shooting on Grounds that killed three teammates, UVA athletic director Carla Williams confirmed Wednesday,” wrote Madia. “Virginia initiated and submitted the request, she said.

“The decision from the NCAA comes in the aftermath of last month’s tragic shooting on Grounds in Charlottesville that killed wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler and linebacker D’Sean Perry.”

After tragedy befell the Cavaliers, the program cancelled their final two games, a non-conference matchup with Coastal Carolina and their annual rivalry matchup with Virginia Tech, effectively ending Tony Elliott’s first season with the program with a record of 3-7.

According to Madia, mostly graduate players and sixth-year or fifth-year seniors will be impacted, if they decide to take advantage of the additional season they’re being offered.

The Cavaliers players who completed their final year of eligibility this past season include wide receivers Billy Kemp IV and Keytaon Thompson, defensive backs Darrius Bratton and Anthony Johnson, defensive ends Kam Butler and Jack Camper, and defensive tackle Devontae Davis, per Madia.

Thus far, Johnson and Kemp have already declared for the NFL Draft, and it remains to be seen what the rest of the group decides.

At the least, it’s a commendable decision from the NCAA to give members of the program an opportunity to finish their collegiate careers on a brighter note, and a chance to raise their NFL Draft stock moving forward.