ESPN’s Schefter Fires Off Strong Take on NFL Players Returning to College

The NFL has clarified its stance on NFL players who have been granted an extra year of eligibility, returning to college. According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, players who leave NFL camp to return to college for the season are barred from playing in the NFL again this year and cannot be drafted in a future season. This rule was reinforced in a recent memorandum from the NFL.

Schefter explained that the rules have been in place, but the NFL felt the need to remind teams and reinforce the idea that a player leaving the NFL to return to college, a situation previously unseen, is not allowed to come back to the NFL in the same season or reenter the draft. The NFL emphasized that each player is eligible for only one draft in their lifetime.

Former safety Donte Whitner also chimed in, stating that a player cannot go undrafted, return to college, and then be selected again. The case of Dae Quan Wright, who left the Cleveland Browns to play for his college coach Lane Kiffin at LSU, has become the focal point of this issue. Other players, such as Zxavian Harris, who left the New Orleans Saints for the same reason, have also drawn attention to this matter.

While the ultimate impact this will have on the players' careers is yet to be determined, Schefter stated that it remains to be seen how this will affect their stock.