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The N.C. State football team lost another prospective player Tuesday after the NCAA, for the second time this month, denied a hardship waiver claim from a potential Wolfpack contributor.
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The Pack removed defensive tackle Katron Evans from the team’s roster Tuesday morning following the waiver denial, fewer than 24 hours before the team’s first fall practice. Evans went through spring football and other offseason training with the team. N.C. State players reported for fall camp on Monday.
Evans, a transfer from Marshall, joined the program in January. Compliance offices at Marshall and N.C. State reportedly believed he would be granted a waiver this fall to complete his college career. The Wolfpack applied for a waiver earlier this year.
According to the waiver application, when Evans played at Charlotte in 2023, he experienced two deaths in his family and his mother was evicted from her home. Evans struggled academically during that time, he said, and did not play that season.
Evans spent two seasons at Jackson State (2021-22), two seasons at Charlotte (2023-24) and one season at Marshall under former N.C. State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. He played in 32 career games, 12 of which took place last fall. Evans only appeared in one game as a sophomore in 2022.
N.S. State was hoping he’d be a key figure on the defensive line. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 336 pounds, he was one of the team’s most experienced players. He’s recorded 34 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. With the departures of Brandon Cleveland and Chazz Wallace, many anticipated Evans to serve as a replacement.
Tuesday marked the second time in two weeks that the NCAA denied an N.C. State player’s waiver request. Last week, Jai’Lun Hampton, a transfer from Tennessee-Martin, was denied a medical waiver.
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Hampton, an offensive tackle, requested the waiver due to an injury when he played on the junior college level.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been informed that my NCAA medical hardship waiver from my JUCO season was denied,” Hampton wrote on social media. “I wasn’t made aware of the final decision until after I had already participated in spring football this semester. Because of that, it triggered my 10th semester of eligibility, making me ineligible to compete at the Division II level, as well as Division I.”
Hampton was listed at 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds, and expected to help fill roles left by Jacarius Peak (transfer) and Anthony Carter (graduation).
Earlier this year, the NCAA implemented in June its “5 for 5” rule. This gives all players five seasons of eligibility in five years — it is an age-based model — and replaces the four seasons of competition in five years. It is expected to quell the chaos that has emerged with NIL and the transfer portal.
A college athlete’s five-year “clock” begins if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday. The only waivers will be for military service, maternity leave or religious missions.
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