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Brendan Sorsby's NCAA future is murky. Could he enter NFL supplemental draft?
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- Brendan Sorsby's NCAA future is murky. Could he enter NFL supplemental draft?
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby was expected to enter his redshirt senior season as one of the best signal-callers in the country.
Now, there are questions about whether the 22-year-old – who was among the transfer portal's most coveted quarterbacks – will suit up at all amid an NCAA investigation into his gambling activity.
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An ESPN report details Sorsby made "thousands" of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app. This included wagers involving Indiana games during his true freshman season as a Hoosier in 2022.
Texas Tech announced Sorsby was stepping away from the program on Monday, April 27, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal , part of the USA TODAY Network. He has since checked into a residential treatment program for gambling addiction.
"Texas Tech is committed to supporting Brendan through his recovery process and to ensure his long-term health and well-being," the school said in a statement.
BRENDAN SORSBY: Cincinnati alerted of QB's gambling issue before 2025 season
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It isn't yet clear whether Sorsby will eventually be eligible to return to the Red Raiders – or any other college team, for that matter. The NCAA's rules and guidelines for betting related violations outline that "student-athletes who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This would also apply to student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools."
The NCAA declined to provide any additional information about the investigation into Sorsby while it was ongoing.
"Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current, pending or potential investigations," the NCAA said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. "However, the NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition. The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever reports are received."
What recourse will Sorsby have if he isn't allowed to return to the NCAA? He could try to take his talents to the NFL. While the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, Sorsby could attempt to join the professional ranks via the NFL supplemental draft.
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Here's more to know about the supplemental draft, how it works and whether Sorsby would be a candidate for it.
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What is the NFL supplemental draft?
The NFL supplemental draft provides an opportunity for players who planned to play college football but have since become ineligible a chance to apply for NFL membership.
Here's what the NFL rulebook says about the supplemental draft, per CBS Sports :
"If such player participates in spring football or other team-related activities at his school, or otherwise indicates that he intends to return to college to play football, he is not eligible for selection in the Principal Draft," the NFL rulebook reads. "If he subsequently fails to become eligible for participation in the following college football season, he may apply for a Supplemental Draft, if the League elects to schedule one."
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The supplemental draft is typically held in June or July – if the NFL schedules one. Players have to apply for eligibility for it and their applications are reviewed by the NFL on a case-by-case basis.
Players are selected via an auction process. NFL teams are given an opportunity to place bids on players on a round-by-round basis using picks from next year's draft. The highest bidder is then awarded the player.
And if the player goes unselected, he is eligible to sign with an NFL club as a free agent.
Will Brendan Sorsby be eligible for NFL supplemental draft?
Regarding whether Sorsby could enter the NFL's supplemental draft, a league spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports: "If a player loses his eligibility, he would be eligible to apply. The league would then review his application and the underlying circumstances of why he is applying."
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At present, Sorsby hasn't yet been ruled ineligible for the 2026 college football season. It isn't clear exactly when – or if – that will happen, as the NCAA's investigation into his gambling activity remains ongoing.
Even if Sorsby is ruled ineligible, he may not be granted entry into the supplemental draft, pending the decision of the review of Sorsby's application by the NFL.
NFL supplemental draft history
The NFL supplemental draft was first held in 1977, when the Seattle Seahawks selected running back Al Hunter with a fourth-round pick after he was suspended from Notre Dame for disciplinary reasons.
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At least one player was selected in each of the first five seasons of the NFL supplemental draft's existence. The 1985 edition of the event drew a great deal of attention, as star Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar declared for it and was selected by the Cleveland Browns with a first-round pick.
The most players selected in a single supplemental draft was five, which came in 1989. Three of the players selected – Steve Walsh, Timm Rosenbach and Bobby Humphrey – were first-rounds picks that season.
The supplemental draft has been sparingly used in recent NFL seasons. The league hasn't held a supplemental draft since 2023, and no player has been selected since the Arizona Cardinals spent a 2020 fifth-round pick on safety Jalen Thompson in 2019.
Notably NFL supplemental draft selections
Below is a look at some of the most notable selections over the supplemental draft's history:
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1985: QB Bernie Kosar, Cleveland Browns (first round)
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1987: LB Brian Bosworth, Seattle Seahawks (first round)
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1987: WR Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings (fourth round)
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1989: QB Steve Walsh, Dallas Cowboys (first round)
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1989: RB Bobby Humphrey, Denver Broncos (first round)
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1990: WR Rod Moore , New York Jets (first round)
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1992: QB Dave Brown, New York Giants (first round)
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1998: G Mike Wahle, Green Bay Packers (second round)
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1998: DT Jamaal Williams , San Diego Chargers (second round)
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2006: LB Ahmad Brooks , Cincinnati Bengals (third round)
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2011: QB Terrelle Pryor , Oakland Raiders (third round)
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2012: WR Josh Gordon , Cleveland Browns (second round)
Brendan Sorsby mock draft
If Sorsby is granted entry into the supplemental draft, it will be interesting to see if any teams have an interest in him. He completed 61.6% of his passes for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 580 yards and nine touchdowns on 100 carries in his final season at Cincinnati .
Because of this, Sorsby was believed to be a potential first-round quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft class. Below is where he landed in a smattering of way-too-early mock drafts for 2027.
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USA TODAY Sports : No. 13 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pro Football Focus : No. 8 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
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CBS Sports : No. 8 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Bleacher Report : No. 10 overall, Atlanta Falcons
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NJ.com : No. 4 overall, Cleveland Browns
If a team believes in Sorsby's talent enough, it may be willing to take a chance on the 22-year-old. Still, any team considering such a move have to be comfortable enough with him adhering to the basic rules within the NFL's gambling policy.
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NFL gambling rules
The NFL outlines six key rules as part of its gambling policy. They are as follows, per the league's website .
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NEVER bet on the NFL: Includes other NFL events such as Draft, Combine, Pro Bowl, & NFL Honors
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Don't have someone bet for you: Do not ask family, friends, or others to place a bet for you
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Don't gamble ( no bets on sports, casino or card games ) at your team facility/stadium, while traveling for a road game, or staying at a team hotel.
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Don't share team 'inside information': Don't share information that hasn't been announced by team.
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Don't enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season.
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Don't play daily fantasy football.
NFL player contracts also contain within them an "integrity of the game" clause , which reads as follows:
"Player recognizes the detriment to the League and professional football that would result from impairment of public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of NFL games or the integrity and good character of NFL players. Player therefore acknowledges his awareness that if he accepts a bribe or agrees to throw or fix an NFL game; fails to promptly report a bribe offer or an attempt to throw or fix an NFL game; bets on an NFL game; knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity; uses or provides other players with stimulants or other drugs for the purpose of attempting to enhance on-field performance; or is guilty of any other form of conduct reasonably judged by the League Commissioner to be detrimental to the League or professional football, the Commissioner will have the right, but only after giving Player the opportunity for a hearing at which he may be represented by counsel of his choice, to fine Player in a reasonable amount; to suspend Player for a period certain or indefinitely; and/or to terminate this contract."
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USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis and John Leuzzi also contributed to this report .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could Brendan Sorsby enter NFL supplemental draft? What to know
