Injured KU quarterback Michael Cummings unlikely to get sixth year of eligibility
As things stand right now, Kansas senior quarterback Michael Cummings has likely played his last college game for the Jayhawks.
Cummings, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the spring game in April, is not expected to return this season and a sixth year of eligibility is unlikely, KU coach David Beaty said Tuesday during a press conference in Lawrence.
“I don't think we're going to be able to get that sixth year,” Beaty said. “We don't know for sure, but it's not looking good right now. We haven't heard back, but it's not looking good.”
Cummings, a native of Killeen, Texas, was recruited to Kansas under former coach Turner Gill and redshirted in 2011. He was set to play as a fifth-year senior this season, but his eligibility clock will run out after this season. Cummings, who finished last season as the starting quarterback, has been an active presence at practice despite not being able to participate, Beaty said.
“I just kind of felt bad for him that he didn't get his opportunity this year,” Beaty said. “Man, it just broke my heart. But just watching how he's handled himself has been really kind of inspiring, for a young man to be able to be that mature.”
Beaty said Tuesday that junior quarterback Montell Cozart (shoulder sprain) will be out another week, meaning true freshman Ryan Willis will start his third straight game at Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Willis set KU true freshman records in passing yards (330) and completions (35) in a loss to Texas Tech last week.
“He's still got some things that he's gotta really get cleaned up,” Beaty said. “We turned the ball over a few times the other day that we cannot do. Those are things that you can say, hey, he's young, he's a freshman, but hey, we coach those things, so that's not OK.”
This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Injured KU quarterback Michael Cummings unlikely to get sixth year of eligibility."