Nevada running back Luke Lippincott has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA because of a medical hardship, the school announced today.
Lippincott, the Western Athletic Conference’s leading rusher in 2007, tore ligaments in his knee in the first half of the second game of the 2008 season against Texas Tech. He missed the remainder of the season. Lippincott also missed the entire 2005 season due to a leg injury.
“We were very pleased to receive this news and we’re happy for Luke that he will have another year in the program,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said. “It is nice to have this process behind us so that we can move forward.”
Lippincott will graduate in May with a degree in psychology and a minor in health ecology. He will begin graduate studies in the fall semester.
He returns to a crowded backfield that also features Vai Taua, the WAC’s leading rusher in 2008. With Lippincott, Taua and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Nevada has three players who have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Nevada opens the 2009 season at Notre Dame on Sept. 5.
