"If he misses another season for injury, we can apply for a sixth year," (VT compliance director Tim) Parker said. "As soon as they miss the second season for reasons outside their control, at that point they can apply for it. As a practical matter, we usually wait until sometime deep into their fifth year [because some athletes aren’t sure they want to return to college for a sixth year]. You can apply for it as soon as that second season is missed, even if it’s not in the fifth year."