One more year
Pitt’s Damar Hamlin receives a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA.
Damar Hamlin will be back for the 2020 season. The safety’s waiver request for a fifth year of eligibility was granted by the NCAA, allowing him to return to the Panthers secondary alongside friend and fellow playmaker Paris Ford.
Hamlin announced the news through a video on Pitt football’s official Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon. In the video, Ford — who will be a redshirt junior with NFL potential — said, “I’m glad I’m coming back.” Then, Hamlin entered the frame and added, “And I’m coming back, too.”
The McKees Rocks native and former Central Catholic standout smiled wide in the video as he put his arm around Ford, overlooking the city on Mount Washington. The city he grew up in, and the city he’ll play in for one more year.
“This city means everything to me,” Hamlin said. “Playing in my own backyard with my family in the stands makes every game that much more personal. Being from here, giving inspiration to the young ones looking up to me, I love every moment of playing for Pittsburgh.”
The former four-star cornerback played in three games as a freshman, but was otherwise limited due to injury. That 2016 campaign counted as a year of eligibility burned, as it predated college football’s current rule of allowing four games played with a redshirt.
There’s no precedent for players being retroactively granted an extra year of eligibility based on games played alone. But due to the injury aspect of Hamlin’s situation, he was awarded an extra year with the Panthers. Which is a coup for both Hamlin and head coach Pat Narduzzi.
“We’re thrilled that Damar was able to receive a fifth year,” head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We weren’t certain after our bowl game what the future would hold. We really appreciate the efforts of our compliance staff as Damar went through this process.
“I know Damar is ready to take full advantage — academically, athletically and personally — of his final year at the University of Pittsburgh.”
LSU
LSU has contacted officials from the NCAA and SEC about Cleveland Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s apparent cash payments to Tigers players on the field after the national championship game. LSU athletics spokesman Michael Bonnette said initial information suggested that Beckham handed out “novelty bills” to players after the top-ranked Tigers defeated Clemson Monday night. However, further investigation showed that Beckham might have given away real money. Star quarterback Joe Burrow went on a Barstool podcast Tuesday and said that actually, the bills were real. “I’m not a student-athlete any more, so I can say yeah,” Burrow said. Beckham starred for LSU from 2011 to 2013 and was a first-round draft pick by the New York Giants. He was traded to Cleveland before last season.
Clemson
Clemson’s leader in receiving yards and touchdowns, Tee Higgins, is forgoing his final college season to enter the NFL draft. Higgins had 1,167 yards on 59 catches with 13 touchdowns as the Tigers (14-1) won the ACC championship.