Tim Silver's legs in recent workouts felt heavy.

"Maybe it's old age," said the University of Richmond's offensive tackle.

Silver, 22, isn't old for a college football player. But the 6-6, 310-pounder is preparing for his sixth season as a Spider. That's unusual. Richmond, however, in the upcoming season will have a pair of sixth-year players, Silver and defensive lineman Sherman Logan, 22.

NCAA rules require a Division I athlete to complete his four seasons of eligibility within five years of first enrolling in college, but exceptions can be made in cases when two seasons are missed for medical reasons.

Silver, named preseason all-Colonial Athletic Association in August, seriously injured his right knee during UR's 2007 opener at Vanderbilt and played no more that season. Logan, also a preseason all-CAA choice in August, played in three games of 2007 before breaking his foot and missing the rest of the year.

Logan was out for the 2004 season due to a neck injury, and Silver was unavailable in 2003 due to a shoulder problem. Richmond applied to the NCAA for a sixth year on behalf of both players, with mandated and extensive physical explanations.

"One thing that the NCAA went to several years ago is a requirement for what they call 'contemporaneous medical documentation,'" said Daniel McCarthy, UR's assistant athletic director for compliance. "It's got to be very clear cut from the onset of the injury through the end of the season to show that the nature of the injury is incapacitating.

"Years and years ago, you could probably get a letter from the doctor at the end of the season -- 'The kid was hurt' -- and nobody really questioned that. And I think that was abused. So now, basically, you have to track [each injury]."

Silver and Logan -- each will turn 23 during the upcoming season -- have been identified by scouting services as players with potential to be selected in the 2009 NFL draft. Logan, 6-3 and 250 pounds, when fit has been a force. The Virginia Beach resident was named the 2005 defensive rookie of the year and first team all-league in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference, which was absorbed by the CAA.

Silver, from McLean, steadily improved as an offensive lineman while going through a remarkable growth spurt. As a freshman at George Marshall High School, Silver was 5-11, 180 pounds. By the next year, Silver checked in at 6-4, 225. He was 6-5 and 280 pounds when he signed with UR in February of 2003. As a Spider, Silver has played at 330 pounds.

In September, Silver tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Surgery and a six-month period of rehabilitation followed as the Spiders shared the CAA title, advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals and won a school-record 11 games.

"Obviously it was bittersweet, seeing as how I was out and not contributing to the team. That hurt. It felt like I was just along for the ride," Silver said.

That ride is over. Now cleared to resume rigorous training, Silver conditions to lose the heavy legs. He and Logan are among 16 starters returning (eight on offense, eight on defense) from an 11-3 team.
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com.