Whether Michigan State will have Ed Davis on the field in the fall of 2016 will be wholly dependent on the linebacker’s academic performance off the field in thew summer.
Davis is seeking -- or is wanting to seek -- a sixth season of the eligibility from the NCAA that would allow him to play this upcoming season. However, MSU cannot apply for that sixth season on Davis’ behalf until the linebacker graduates from the university.
Davis likely won’t graduate until mid-August, meaning his availability for the start of the season is certainly up in the air. From mlive.com:[Head coach Mark] Dantonio said Davis needs to take classes during both summer sessions to earn his degree, but that he’s “on track” to graduate in the summer.
According to Michigan State’s academic calendar, the second of those sessions doesn’t end until Aug. 18. That date falls two weeks and one day before the Spartans’ season opener, and will be well into the team’s fall camp.
After that day, the team will still have to file paperwork with the NCAA and wait for a response before it knows whether or not Davis can play in 2016.
Good luck getting a speedy response from that governing body.
A key contributor from 2012-14, Davis started 12 games in that latter season. He was third on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (seven), and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten for his performance.
Davis didn’t play at all in 2015 because of a torn ACL sustained in the first full-pads practice of summer camp last August.