I don’t think the Pitt coaches will be counting on it to happen, but hey, it’s worth a shot.

Redshirt Senior OL John Simonitis will be applying for a medical redshirt.

He is now looking into the prospects of getting a medical waiver with the hopes of gaining a sixth year of eligibility but, according to Simonitis, that appears to a be a long shot.

“I’m going to try but it is not looking good,” Simonitis admitted. “The coaches don’t think it’s possible. I think I will be all right without it, I have enough game film and I have been a four-year starter. A lot of my coaches are going to help me out, getting me into some (NFL) camps.”

According to the NCAA, a student athlete has five years to complete four seasons of competition. The school must apply to the conference office, in this case the Big East to receive a medical waiver. The criteria for receiving a medical waiver is an athlete must suffer a season-ending injury. The injury must occur during the first half of the season and the athlete can not have participated in more than two games or 20 percent of the games during a season.

In Simonitis’ case, he played in five games, although he participated in just two plays against Cincinnati and one play in the Toledo game.

“The coaches have to petition the NCAA and give good reasons why I should be able to get the (waiver),” Simonitis said. “I already was redshirted and I never had a season ending injury before. If I had a choice I would go back for a sixth year and get another year of experience. That would probably help me in the draft. Whatever happens, happens. The coaches don’t think it’s looking good, there are a lot of circumstances and I think I have probably played too many games.”

As for his future, only time will tell. It all depends on how smoothly the rehab goes. Simonitis is still intent on getting to an NFL camp whether it be in 2007 or the following year. The Dolphins and Raiders are two teams that have visited the Pitt campus and relayed to the coaching staff that they liked what they saw in Simonitis. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, he has the size and footwork to make it in the NFL.

Even though his other redshirt was non-medical, the fact that he has already redshirted probably weighs heavier against him then playing in 5 games this year.