Tennessee OL Andrej Karic denied extra year of eligibility by NCAA

By Chris Marler

College athletes are increasingly fighting for additional eligibility and rights—and they’re winning those battles at an unprecedented rate.

However, that is not what happened with Tennessee offensive lineman Andrej Karic. 

Karic started at left guard for the Vols in every game a season ago. Despite being a 2020 recruit, he applied for an additional year of eligibility after missing most of the 2023 season. 

NCAA rules allow players to participate in up to four games or 30 percent of a season while still qualifying for a redshirt year, preserving their four years of eligibility. Karic started the first four games of the 2023 season for the Vols. In the fifth game of that season he suffered a season ending injury just five snaps into the game. 

Ultimately, the five snaps in that game cost him a medical redshirt from the NCAA. 

Karic becomes the fourth offensive lineman that Tennessee will have to replace going into next season. He will begin preparing for the NFL Draft.