I agree they could suggest deferring. OP put this as dropping half the classes, other serious issues. On the academic side, this student missed a big chunk of senior year learning. That can affect how ready he is, how fully prepared, as well as energies.
It can matter what courses were dropped. Cores? Or just random electives? How are grades looking?
Adding, cuz I forgot: right, someone needs to talk to the college. We don’t know.