Tennessee starting left guard Andrej Karic is seeking an extra-year of eligibility from the NCAA due to an injury riddled 2023 season, he announced earlier this week.
“Trying to hear back to try to see if I can get a medical redshirt,” Karic said. “Other than that I’m not really sure at this point.”
Despite being a senior, Karic did not go through Senior Day festivities before Tennessee’s win over UTEP. He was the only senior not to do so which indicated his hopes of coming back for one more season despite not currently having more eligibility.
Karic is in his fifth year of college football, playing his first three at Texas before transferring to Tennessee. The 2020 season didn’t count against him due to COVID-19 but Karic has five or more games in every other season making him ineligible for a normal redshirt.
The Southlake, Texas native’s hopes rest in the 2023 season where he played just five games due to multiple injuries he suffered over the course of the season. Karic does have a strong case.
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He played the first four games of the season before suffering an injury. The left guard returned a month later against Kentucky but suffered a season-ending injury just five plays into that game. Those five snaps cost Karic from being eligible for a regular red shirt.
Karic has stayed healthy in 2024 and has been one of Tennessee’s best offensive linemen. The 6-foot-6, 314-pound guard has totaled a 70.7 PFF grade in 699 total snaps to this point in the season. Karic’s PFF grade is the ninth highest amongst SEC offensive guards with over 400 snaps played this season. He’s been a steady force on a steadily improving Tennessee offensive line over the course of the season.
“I think that as this year went on, we got better,” Karic said. “I think it’s just seeing defenses and how they want to play us. Then it’s about being able to react faster, because you know what to expect. You play a little more timid at the beginning of the year, because you’re trying to figure it out, but once you feel it out and get through it, it allows you to play a lot faster, which allows you to play a lot better.
Karic returning would help solidify Tennessee’s offense line and limit its need to add more interior bodies in the transfer portal this offseason.
