Iowa State QB Kempt granted sixth year of eligibility

Iowa State quarterback Kyle Kempt has been granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA, the school announced Friday. Kempt guided the Cyclones to an 8-5 record last season, including a win over College Football Playoff participant Oklahoma. "We are excited that Kyle was given another year of eligibility by the NCAA," said Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell in a statement. "We alerted Kyle and our recruits when we received the clearance notification on Jan. 30. Since then all of our efforts had been focused on our 2018 football team and recruiting. "Kyle has established himself as a leader on our team and we are thrilled by the NCAA's decision to allow him to remain a Cyclone in 2018." Kempt was listed as a senior during the 2017 season, but he referenced the "run-off rule" in his attempt to get another season. The NCAA can grant additional years to players who are "run off" from their original four-year schools. Kempt initially signed with Oregon State, but did not play in his two seasons there. He told the Des Moines Register last month that the coaching staff told him he would not play there. After spending the 2015 season at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, Kempt joined the Iowa State roster and was on the Cyclones' scout team in 2016. Kempt made his first start at No. 3 Oklahoma on Oct. 8 and led Iowa State to a stunning 38-31 upset, throwing for 343 yards and three touchdowns. The Hawkeyes also knocked off then-No. 4 TCU on the way to earning a bowl bid behind Kempt, who set the school's single-season completion percentage (66.3) record. He connected on 161 of 243 passes for 1,787 yards and 15 touchdowns. "I'm relieved the decision has been made and extremely excited to be back with the team in 2018," Kempt said. "We have a lot of work to do and it is a thrill for me to be able to represent this great university for another year. I am also thankful for the NCAA for looking at my situation so thoroughly and for all of the people involved in this process. They put in a lot of hard work and I really appreciate it."