The National Football League will prohibit players who return to college this season from signing with an NFL team during the year, according to reports. This clarification follows recent instances of players leaving NFL rosters to return to college programs, prompting swift action from collegiate athletic conferences.
The league is expected to inform its clubs of the new guidance this Wednesday. The policy aims to prevent players from signing an NFL contract, being released, and then returning to college without facing limitations on future professional signing. Under the new rules, such players would be considered free agents and not subject to future drafts, but they would be barred from signing with another NFL team within the same season they returned to college.
This development comes as several players have explored returning to college football. Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, for example, entered the transfer portal after being waived by the team and subsequently agreed to a deal to play his fifth college season at LSU. Similarly, former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris is reportedly aiming to join the Ole Miss team after his release from the New Orleans Saints.
College conferences have moved to address this emerging trend. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) unanimously adopted a policy Tuesday that bars its member programs from signing players who have already signed with or played for a professional team. The Big Ten conference announced its intention to implement a similar rule on Tuesday, with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Big 12 expected to follow suit.
The controversy surrounding player eligibility and movement between college and professional leagues has been amplified by recent legal challenges. Players from the high school class of 2022, who were not included in the NCAA's new five-year eligibility framework, have been at the center of these challenges. A Louisiana judge recently granted temporary relief to a group of players, including Wright and Harris, allowing them to pursue college returns after brief NFL stints.