West Liberty DB Transfer Shon Stephens Has Hardship Wavier Denied by NCAA

West Liberty defensive back transfer Shon Stephens has had his personal hardship waiver denied by the NCAA, meaning he is officially out of college eligibility.

Stephens began his career at Bakersfield College, a JUCO in California, before transferring to Missouri Southern State. After taking the 2020 season off to help his mother recover from a heart attack, he committed to Penn State as a walk-on in 2021. Unfortunately, he wasn't granted immediate eligibility, so he went down to West Liberty, a school roughly 11 miles north of Wheeling, WV, where he put together an incredible season to get back on the Power Five radar.

This past season, Stephens earned All-American honors by recording 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups, and led the nation with eight interceptions. He took visits to West Virginia and Purdue and received interest in the portal from Colorado among a few others. Stephens was set to make his commitment to Purdue but had to wait to hear from the NCAA in regard to the status of his eligibility.

Somehow, the NCAA has allowed some players a sixth, seventh, or even eighth year of eligibility due to injuries but giving one extra year to someone who took a year off to be with his mother is where they draw the line. Once again, the NCAA gets it wrong.

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