Louisiana court order gives players signed by NFL teams a shot at returning to college sports
Several athletes, including some with NFL contracts, received a temporary restraining order from a Louisiana court that would allow them to return to college athletics, according to ESPN.
A Louisiana court issued an order granting eligibility to football players who signed contracts with NFL teams, allowing them a chance to return to college sports, according to ESPN on Wednesday. Among those affected are former Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson, who played for the Seattle Seahawks, Florida and LSU pass rusher Jack Pyburn, who was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and ex-Mississippi starters Dae'Quan Wright, selected by the Cleveland Browns, and Wydett Williams, drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
These athletes were part of a lawsuit filed, with 33 players from various sports seeking a fifth year of eligibility. The NCAA has faced legal challenges to its rules regarding player eligibility. Tim Buckley, senior vice president of external affairs for the NCAA, criticized the courts for granting relief to ineligible athletes without proper hearings, causing instability in college sports.
Buckley also warned that legal teams are unlikely to stop until every professional athlete can use college sports as a fallback option, despite the disadvantage it imposes on those who cannot start their collegiate careers. On July 31, a federal court in Denver ruled that all high school class of 2022 athletes who used up their fourth year of college eligibility in the spring are eligible for a fifth season this academic year.
This decision followed the NCAA's recent rule change, extending eligibility to five years for athletes beginning with those who enroll in fall 2027. The Colorado ruling eliminated the waiting period.
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