Navy's Tago Smith denied medical redshirt; ineligible for 2017

Navy starting quarterback Tago Smith has been denied a medical redshirt, and will not be able to return to the team in 2017, after tearing his ACL in the season opener on Sept. 3.

Navy Academy superintendent, Vice Admiral Walter Carter, made the decision to not sign off on the medical waiver needed to apply to the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility.

"This is a four-year academic institution and midshipmen are expected to graduate in that period of time unless the superintendent determines there is a significant reason why they cannot do so," Commander David McKinney said to Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette. "Vice Admiral Carter looked at this particular situation and decided that is not the case with Midshipmen Smith.

"While we are sympathetic to Tago's athletic career we aren't an institution that exists to develop professional athletes, we exist to develop leaders."

Smith finishes his college career with 290 passing yards, 391 rushing yards, and 11 total touchdowns in 15 career games.