He could have pulled a scholarship from a walk on player but I kind of doubt that. Kill is known for building strong walk on programs and you don't really make yourself too likeable to potential walk ons when you pull scholarships from walk ons who earned scholarships. I get that he doesn't have to honor those but I think it'd be a pretty tacky thing to do.
I'd guess that there is some eligibility issues with a player or two. We do have a couple players who are a bit of question marks as far as eligibility (Wright and Crawford) and we were supposedly in a bit of trouble academically when Kill arrived.
Another possibility, and I hope this isn't it, is that a guy like Green or Brandon might not be ready to play football again. I only bring up their names to ask a question, if these guys are too injured to keep playing football, will we get scholarships back? I know their scholarships would be honored but would they count against our 85 total?
(P.S....I don't mean to fling any sort of mud at these guys and I hope it's not the case, but with the report that Green was injured again throughout spring ball and that he is back on crutches, makes me wonder).
From Division 1 Manual:
15.5.1.3 Counter Who Becomes Injured or Ill. A counter who becomes injured or ill to the point that
he or she apparently never again will be able to participate in intercollegiate athletics shall not be considered a
counter beginning with the academic year following the incapacitating injury or illness.
15.5.1.3.1 Incapacitating Injury or Illness. If an incapacitating injury or illness occurs prior to a prospective
student-athlete’s or a student-athlete’s participation in athletically related activities and results in
the student-athlete’s inability to compete ever again, the student-athlete shall not be counted within the
institution’s maximum financial aid award limitations for the current, as well as later academic years. However,
if the incapacitating injury or illness occurs on or after the student-athlete’s participation in countable
athletically related activities in the sport, the student-athlete shall be counted in the institution’s maximum
financial aid limitations for the current academic year but need not be counted in later academic years.
(Adopted: 1/10/91, Revised: 3/26/04, 9/18/07)
15.5.1.3.2 Change in Circumstances. If circumstances change and the student-athlete subsequently
practices or competes at the institution at which the incapacitating injury or illness occurred, the studentathlete
again shall become a counter, and the institution shall be required to count that financial aid under
the limitations of this bylaw in the sport in question during each academic year in which the financial aid
was received. (Revised: 4/26/01 effective 8/1/01)
15.5.1.3.3 Waiver. The Legislative Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief may waive the requirements
of Bylaw 15.5.1.3.2 upon determination that sufficient documentation is available from competent
medical authorities to indicate that the original injury or illness clearly appeared to be incapacitating and
that there was no reasonable expectation that the student-athlete ever again would be able to participate in
intercollegiate athletics. (Revised: 11/1/07 effective 8/1/08)