The NCAA has denied Virginia Tech’s appeal that Coastal Carolina transfer Brock Hoffman be granted immediate eligibility. As a result, Hoffman will sit out the 2019 season and redshirt. He was projected to start at center for the Hokies this season. He will now be a redshirt junior for the 2020 season.
“While extremely disappointed in this final decision by the NCAA, Virginia Tech Athletics and the football staff will continue to provide our unwavering support and compassion to Brock and his family,” the athletic department said in a statement that was released on Tuesday evening.
Hoffman’s mother, Stephanie, had surgery to correct an acoustic neuroma – a non-cancerous brain tumor, in January of 2017. He decided to transfer to be closer to her, and to make it easier on her to attend his games. However, there is a 100-mile radius that applies to cases such as these, and Hoffman’s home in North Carolina is five miles outside of that 100-mile radius from Blacksburg, which is the reason his original waiver request was denied.
According to Andy Bitter of The Athletic, the fact that Hoffman waited too long to decide to transfer was the final factor in the NCAA’s decision to deny his appeal.
https://twitter.com/AndyBitterVT/status/1166474627570446336
Hoffman posted a 4.0 GPA in the spring and fall semesters of 2018, according to the release by Virginia Tech. He started every game in his two years at Coastal Carolina at both center and guard.
Redshirt junior Zachariah Hoyt, who started nine games at both center and guard last season, is current projected to start at center in 2019. He’ll be backed up by redshirt freshman John Harris.