By John Shinn
Oklahoma senior defensive end Calvin Thibodeaux has applied for and received a hardship waiver from the NCAA and will return to OU next season.
“He will be back,” OU coach Bob Stoops said Monday.
Thibodeaux has made 39 tackles this season and has a team-high nine sacks.
He played in two games as a true freshman in 2002 and played in 12 games in 2003.
The hardship rule came into play because he missed the final seven games of the 2004 season due to a season-ending knee injury.
The NCAA hardship waiver states any player who misses the second half of a season due to injury or illness can be granted another year of eligibility.
