Iowa defensive end Drew Ott's appeal for a fifth year of eligibility with the NCAA was denied Tuesday, per The Cedar Rapids Gazette, bringing to a close one of the more unique NCAA eligibility cases in recent memory.
Ott's 2015 season came to an end in October when he underwent knee and elbow surgery, but under NCAA rules, he had played too much football in 2015 to qualify for the medical redshirt required for a fifth year of eligibility. He appealed for a waiver, and participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in February, although his participation was limited to medical examinations and team interviews due to his rehabilitation from the surgeries. He hadn't signed with an agent so that his NCAA eligibility would be intact in the event that his appeal was successful.
The school confirmed the end of Ott's collegiate career via Twitter:
Had the NCAA allowed Ott to return to Iowa this fall, he would have been in the unique position of being eligible to participate in the combine twice.
Instead, he's draftable and has hired agent Neil Cornrich, according to The Gazette. Ott is scheduled for a medical recheck in Indianapolis on Friday, per The Des Moines Register.
Ott delivered 12 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a junior for the Hawkeyes, in 2014, his last season in full health. He had made five sacks in four games last year before injuring his knee.
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