Several NFL rookies offered lifeline to return to college football for 5th season
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Several NFL rookies offered lifeline to return to college football for 5th season
Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK·USA TODAY Sports
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3 min read
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Several college football players from the 2022 recruiting class — multiple of whom are currently in NFL training camps or received rookie minicamp invites — have been granted a temporary restraining order by a Louisiana judge to play a fifth season ofcollege football,according to multiple reports on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Former Florida and LSU linebacker Jack Pyburn, who's fighting for a roster spot with theTampa Bay Buccaneers, and former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who's still on theCleveland Browns' roster, are a part of the group, per the reports. So is former Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson, who's on theSeattle Seahawks' roster.
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A person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports that Hankerson is still trying to make theSeattle Seahawksroster, but his name is in the lawsuit in case the NFL doesn't work out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
All three players went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but were signed as free agents. Those three players have all expressed an interest in being released from their current NFL contracts, according to ESPN.
The list also includes Wydett Williams, who signed with theArizona Cardinalsafter going undrafted, and Zxavian Harris, who was recently cut by theNew Orleans Saints. Wright, Williams and Harris all played at Ole Miss last season.
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The TRO was also granted to TJ Harden, Weylin Lapuaho, Luke Drzewiecki, Trent Hendrick, Brylan Green and DQ Smith, who all at least were invited to NFL rookie camps this summer. Former college standouts South Carolina safety DQ Smith and Notre Dame defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka were also a part of the court decision, among others.
The decision is a result of temporary restraining order granted to numerous athletes inColorado state court by judge Charlotte Sweeney,which gave all players that started their careers during the 2022-23 school year an additional season of eligibility. The ruling has already resulted in numerous players starting to sign with men's college basketball rosters, but it's now trickling into college football, despite the season starting in just over a week.
No. 25 Acrisure Stadium (Pitt):68,400
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No. 24 Raymond James Stadium (South Florida):69,218
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No. 23 Kinnick Stadium (Iowa):69,250
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No. 22 Husky Stadium (Washington):70,083
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No. 21 Spartan Stadium (Michigan State):74,866
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No. 20 Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin):76,057
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No. 19 Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium (Arkansas):76,212
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No. 18 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (USC):77,500
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No. 17 Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina):77,559
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No. 16 Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame):77,622
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No. 15 Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Oklahoma):80,126
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No. 14 Clemson Memorial Stadium (Clemson):81,500
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No. 13 Memorial Stadium (Nebraska):85,458
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No. 12 Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn):88,043
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No. 11 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida):88,548
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No. 10 Rose Bowl (UCLA):89,702
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No. 9 Sanford Stadium (Georgia):93,033
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No. 8 Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama):100,077
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No. 7 Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas):100,119
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The players included in the TRO must win an additional case in order to enter the transfer portal, as the NCAA can still enforce transfer rules with the portal currently being closed. Some players who were granted TROs based on Sweeney's decision had entered the portal prior to gaining an extra season of eligibility, which is why some are able to change schools.
Pyburn, a multi-year starter at LSU and Florida, has 131 total tackles with three sacks in his career. Wright was a second-team All-SEC selection last season. Smith was a four-year starter for the Gamecocks. Hankerson rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons at Oregon State, and Harris made total tackles with three sacks at Ole Miss last season.
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The NCAA is expected to appeal Sweeney's ruling, according to multiple reports, but for now multiple standouts could potentially return to their former teams before the season starts.
