After the dust had cleared, Jimmy Williams’ collegiate career hasn’t come to an end after all.
With his eligibility set to expire, the East Carolina wide receiver has instead been granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA, the school announced Tuesday. The waiver means Williams will be eligible to play in 2017, which will be his final season of eligibility.
The decision was based on Williams’ true freshman season, which ended after the fifth game of the year because of a broken bone in his foot. Because Williams didn’t play in more than 30 percent of the Pirates’ games that season and none of his participation came in the second half of the year, the NCAA granted the request for the waiver.
The decision will be a boon to an ECU passing attack that will be losing Zay Jones, the NCAA’s all-time leader in career receptions.
This past season, Williams was second on the team in receiving yards (818) and third in receptions (45). His 18.2 yards per catch was tops on the Pirates, while his eight touchdown receptions was tied for the team lead.