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In news first reported by former BYU defensive back Ben Criddle of ESPN 960 AM Radio, running back Squally Canada will be eligible to play in BYU's bowl game later this month.

Canada sort of broke the news himself on Twitter, saying "Yes, I am bowl eligible" in one tweet and following that with, "And no, I will not lose a year of eligibility."

From Milpitas, Calif., Canada signed with Washington State out of high school and redshirted the 2014 season at Wazzu due to an injury before transferring to BYU on Dec. 13. He can now suit up for either the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 19 or the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

I held off on reporting the development Monday night until I could get official confirmation from BYU.

Tuesday morning, football spokesperson Brett Pyne acknowledged that the possibility exists that Canada will suit up in the upcoming bowl game.

Here's Pyne's statement:

"He is currently not eligible to compete in games but the possibility exists that he could become eligible before BYU plays in a bowl game. According to NCAA rules, a transfer student must complete a full academic year at the institution before being eligible to compete.

Certification cannot take place until the completion of the current semester, and, therefore, no determinations can be made until that point.

If he is able to compete in the bowl game, it has no impact on his future eligibility.

Either way, as a transfer student he will have three years of eligibility remaining at BYU after this season."

Canada's situation is much like that of former BYU basketball player Matt Carlino, who transferred to BYU from UCLA on Dec. 22, 2010 and made his debut against Baylor on Dec. 17, 2011 just days after winter semester had ended.

Canada's "NCAA clock," which says a student-athlete has five years to play four from the time he or she enrolled at a Division I school, is the reason will have three years of eligibility, and not four, regardless of whether he plays in the bowl game or not. Of course, the clock is stopped, as it were, for religious missions or military service.

Canada has been practicing with the scout team this fall, going against BYU's first-team defense. Coaches have raved about his ability to give the first-teamers a good luck at what they will be going against in games.

Canada ran for 1,916 yards and 24 touchdowns his senior year at Milpitas High in the San Jose area and was a four-star recruit according to ESPN.com.