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CLEMSON — Defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart’s NCAA waiver claim for another season of eligibility was granted, meaning he will return to Clemson football for 2025.
The NCAA ruled in favor of Capehart’s appeal, giving his 2021 season back when he played 20 snaps over five games. He played more than the NCAA’s four-game rule, but he did not record any stats that year and played on special teams in one of those five games as he battled a knee injury.
The NCAA grants a medical hardship waiver if an athlete plays 30% or less of a team’s games in a season and if the person doesn’t appear after the midway point of that year. Capehart’s five games in 2021 counts as 38.5% of Clemson’s 13 games that season and most of his snaps came in the second half of the year.
Still, Capehart won his appeal with he and Clemson potentially arguing his 2020 season as his redshirt year and still having a COVID year available.
Capehart joined Clemson in 2020, where players were granted a future year for the COVID-19 pandemic. He played four games that season to redshirt, then played four more years with the Tigers. He will use the extra year to compete in his sixth and final season.
Coach Dabo Swinney said on Jan. 15 that Capehart is training at Clemson and is enrolled in school, and he was “hoping for some good news” regarding the defensive tackle’s status.
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Capehart, who recorded 21 tackles over 11 games and six starts in 2024, will join offensive lineman Walker Parks and safety Tyler Venables as Clemson’s sixth-year players in 2025. He will be the most experienced defensive tackle at Clemson and an important interior player for new defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s scheme.
Capehart will play alongside Peter Woods with Stephiylan Green, Vic…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/demonte-capehart-return-clemson-football-024734925.html
Author : Greenville News
Publish date : 2025-01-23 02:47:00
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