Pursuing A Master’s Degree And Playing Football Is A Good Fit For This Umaine Duo

University of Maine strong safety Jeffrey DeVaughn and tight end Joe Vitiello are not your typical student-athletes. They have already earned their undergraduate degrees and are pursuing master’s degrees while playing football for the Black Bears. Under NCAA rules, every student-athlete is allowed five years to complete four years of eligibility. Many football players space out their academic workload for their undergraduate degree over five years because most of them are redshirts their first year as they make the big jump from high school to college football and academics. That means they practice with the team but don’t play in games, so they won’t use up a year of eligibility.