Victory Vaka has lost his scholarship with Western Kentucky. The decision comes just two months after the senior defensive lineman's mother passed away. Her death was reportedly unexpected. According to The New York Post, Vaka, a transfer from Texas Southern, lost his mother on April 2.
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The senior then flew home to grieve his mother, with plans to return to Western Kentucky ready for the upcoming 2026 season. Vaka's new strength and conditioning coach called him to provide a workout program, advising him that he was expected to be back on campus in June.
However, when Vaka hadn't returned by May 26, Western Kentucky's chief of staff, Travis Taylor, informed Vaka that his scholarship was being canceled.
To make matters worse, Vaka's scholarship cancellation was cited as a 'failure to report,' which removes his eligibility to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
"I was shocked," Vaka told CBS Sports. "...It's like inhumane what they did. When some of these coaches say they care, they really don't."
Vaka is now one semester short of graduating. Unfortunately for him, the NCAA has denied his legislative waiver. That's left him unable to use the final year of his eligibility.
Victory Vaka Believes Western Kentucky Was Looking To Replace Him
When speaking with CBS Sports, Vaka shared his belief that Western Kentucky may have used his absence as a reason to replace him, something he believes they had been looking to do.
"I didn't want to leave Western Kentucky, but I had to be back at home," Vaka said. "[Helton] asked me, 'If you don't come back out here, I'm not going to blame you.' That kind of caught me off guard...I got that feeling they wouldn't be mad if I didn't come back."
Vaka then continued by explaining that it was his belief that the team had been given May off from training.
"In my mind, they were giving me the whole month of May off," Vaka continued. "I think that's where all this went sideways. The lack of communication from both parties."
Vaka will now look to complete his college education by completing his final semester. However, there's no predicting how this whole situation will impact whatever football career he had waiting for him beyond the upcoming season.
