UO Release: Nick Cody and Axel McQuaw Academically Ineligible for Fiesta Bowl

After dealing with injuries to various offensive linemen during the season, including season ending ones to guards Carson York and Mana Greig, the Ducks will be without one of their top reserves in the trenches in Glendale due to academic issues.

Per a University of Oregon release:

University of Oregon senior offensive lineman Nick Cody and junior defensive lineman Axel McQuaw will not accompany the Ducks to the Fiesta Bowl after failing to meet the minimum NCAA academic requirements necessary to participate in the post season, according to head coach Chip Kelly.

Cody – a senior from Brush Prairie, Washington – started the first six games of the season for the Ducks in place of York, while McQuaw did not see any game action this year, according to the release.

Cody's absence will be a huge detriment to Oregon as it prepares to face Kansas State, especially if another lineman goes down during the game.

With the possibility of Chip Kelly going to the NFL and a hearing with the NCAA on the horizon, it's safe to say that another distraction was not on the Ducks' holiday wish list.