Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans, who yesterday tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, won’t be able to get a medical redshirt for this season. So his sophomore year is lost and he will be a junior when he returns next season. That’s the simple reality of the situation.

Here’s why: Evans redshirted as a freshman, leaving him with four years to play four seasons. The NCAA allows athletes five years to play four seasons. In order to get a sixth year of eligibility, a player must miss two seasons for reasons outside of his control (i.e. injuries), said Tim Parker, Tech’s compliance director.

“If he misses another season for injury, we can apply for a sixth year,” Parker said. “As soon as they miss the second season for reasons outside their control, at that point they can apply for it. As a practical matter, we usually wait until sometime deep into their fifth year [because some athletes aren’t sure they want to return to college for a sixth year]. You can apply for it as soon as that second season is missed, even if it’s not in the fifth year.”

If Evans hadn’t redshirted as a freshman, he would be a junior this season and could have redshirted after he got hurt. But in that case, he still would have two years of eligibility when he returns in 2010. And if he happens to suffer another season-ending injury next year, he can apply for the sixth year and, if he gets it, still have two years of eligibility left starting in 2011.

Hope that all makes sense. Bottom line: Evans will be able to play, at most, two more seasons at Tech.

Virginia Tech’s compliance director, Tim Parker, explains.