This time, it was Kaleb Levao who got good news on Wednesday (Feb. 20).
 
The second team All-Big Sky Conference offensive guard is the second Eastern Washington University football player in as many weeks to have his hardship waiver request to receive a sixth year to complete his four years of eligibility approved by the Big Sky and the NCAA.
 
Levao started 14 of EWU's 15 games last season alongside All-America center Spencer Blackburn, who on Feb. 14 received his hardship waiver to return for the 2019 season. Blackburn has earned second team All-Big Sky honors in each of the last three seasons after missing the entire 2015 campaign with a thumb injury.
 
That means EWU will have three returning starters along the offensive line (tackle Chris Schlichting is the other), while also having back tackle Tristen Taylor who played in just three games in 2018 before being lost with a season-ending knee injury. That leaves 2014 Spokane High School graduates Jack Hunter (Gonzaga Prep; 27 starts in 40 career games at guard) and Beau Byus (Central Valley; 11 starts in 37 career games as a tackle and tight end) as the lone seniors lost from the 2018 squad.
 
"It's very good and fortunate news to hear of the NCAA granting Kaleb a sixth fall," said Eastern head coach Aaron Best. "He was one of our most consistent offensive linemen this past fall on our run to the national championship game. Having the RG and C tandem intact for another run will be exciting as we watch them write more chapters to their already incredible stories."
 
Eastern finished as the only school to rank in the top 20 in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in total offense, rushing and passing. The Eagles averaged 528.2 yards on offense to rank third in FCS, including 255.9 rushing (10th) and 272.3 passing (20th). The Big Sky Conference co-champions were also ranked fourth in scoring (43.1).
 
En route to a 12-3 finish overall and runner-up finish in the NCAA Division I Championship Game, the Eagles as a team finished the 2018 season with a school-record 6.62 average per rush on the season to break the previous record of 6.41 set in 2001. The Eagles set team records for rushing yards (3,839) and rushing touchdowns (41).
 
Levao is receiving his year back after playing just two games in 2017 before a knee injury ended his season.  He's started 18 of the 39 games he's played as an Eagle, including one as a defensive lineman. He had 14 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2015 before moving over to the offensive line after that season. He started twice as a sophomore in 2016, both games in 2017 prior to his injury and 14 of 15 in 2018.
 
The 2014 graduate of Aberdeen (Wash.) High School had four tackles and a sack versus Montana on Nov. 14, 2015.
 
Wide receiver Zach Eagle had his 2019 season ended prematurely because of a knee injury after playing five games, but his request for a sixth year has been initially denied. Eastern plans to appeal based on the fact quarterback Gage Gubrud – who plans to play his sixth year at Washington State – was given his year back after missing the same 10 games that Eagle missed.