LSU alum Ben McDonald stated that while he personally disapproves of professional athletes returning to college to reclaim eligibility, he understands the strategic reasoning behind the trend for college coaches. The debate surrounds a growing number of former NFL rookies and other athletes who are moving back to the collegiate level after being released by professional teams, seeking an additional year of eligibility.
"Personally, I don’t believe in it," McDonald said in an interview. "I think once you get to play your four years, for me, it’s time to move on at that point. But things are so different now when you talk about the NIL money and the money that’s out there now, you get why these kids want to come back."
He added that if players cannot succeed in professional leagues like the NFL or MLB, the opportunity to return to college for a fifth year and earn money can be appealing. "You don’t blame the players for wanting to continue to play. They love the sport, they want to continue their athletic career. But also, money is involved."
Drew Rosenhaus, an NFL agent representing players involved in this trend, supports athletes returning to college if they fall within the NCAA's "5-for-5" rule, which grants student-athletes five years of eligibility to play five seasons. Rosenhaus noted that playing another college year can benefit a player's development and financial prospects compared to being on an NFL practice squad.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule commented that players who have participated in NFL training camps gain significant experience. "Twice as good," Rhule said of the development these players receive.
McDonald acknowledged that for college coaches, recruiting players with prior professional experience and college eligibility offers a competitive advantage. "Whether you agree with it or not, if I’m a college coach and I have the opportunity to get a kid that’s got four years of college experience, and he was in an NFL training camp, why would I not want him to come back to my roster? It only allows us a better chance to win," he explained.
McDonald also pointed out that this trend could impact incoming freshmen, as roster spots may be occupied by players returning from professional leagues. "It hurts our incoming freshman class because those kids don’t have really nowhere to go with the 5-for-5 deal that’s out there right now."
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin confirmed that his team's leadership committee supported bringing such players onto the roster, emphasizing that "this is how it works at the next level, and this is how the real world works." Kiffin's final roster decisions are due before the team's season opener.
Meanwhile, other coaches in the SEC, such as Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, have expressed opposition to the practice. "The fact that somebody out there is going to take a player off of an NFL roster and tell somebody who's been doing it for nine months to go kick rocks, that doesn't sit well with me. I think that's wrong. That, morally, is wrong," Sarkisian said.