Martin-Oguike gets extra year of eligibility after false rape claim

Published Mar. 31, 2015 9:08 a.m. ET

foxsports

Temple defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike, who was exonerated after being accused of raping a woman in his dorm in 2012, was given an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA on Tuesday.

Martin-Oguike was suspended indefinitely by the Owls when the allegations were filed and missed the entire 2013 season. He was reinstated by the school in January 2014 and will now see his eligibility be extended through the 2016 season.

"I said throughout this process that I just want to get back to the life I had before," Martin-Oguike said in a press release. "There was a path that I was on, to play four years of college football and get my college degree, then hopefully, have an opportunity to play at the next level. I'm working towards that goal and I'm very thankful that I'm back on that path."

Martin-Oguike led Temple with 7.5 sacks and was named second-team All-ACC in 2014.

"I can't imagine what Praise and his family were put through from the time those accusations were made," Temple head coach Matt Rhule said. "Hopefully he -- and the rest of our players for that matter - learn from that experience how close they are to having the privilege of playing college athletics taken away. Fortunately, in this instance, Praise has been able to restore his life and his reputation. He has done everything we've asked of him since returning to the team."