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Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard became the latest prominent football voice to express skepticism about the concept of NFL players returning to play in college.
When asked Tuesday morning during his preseason news conference if any players had recently expressed interest to him in returning to college, Ballard replied, “No. That’s the stupidest s— I’ve ever heard.”
“Your entire life — I know I’ll catch crap for this — you fight to get up to the NFL. OK, but now we’re gonna go back? That makes a lot of freakin’ sense,” the Colts GM said sarcastically.
Chris Ballard on if players told him they wanted to back to college
College sports are in the midst of turmoil over the eligibility status of players with professional experience. NFL linebacker Jack Pyburn became the most recent face of this debate after the 22-year-old said that returning to LSU for a fifth year of eligibility “was a possibility as a backup option” if he did not make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 53-man roster.
Pyburn was, in fact, waived by the Bucs on Sunday, but the Kansas City Chiefs claimed the undrafted rookie Monday.
Pyburn’s representative advised him of the possibility a few months ago as the NCAA simplified its eligibility rules, essentially giving every athlete five years to play five college seasons. The change did not, however, apply to fourth-year seniors (such as Pyburn) who had just completed their eligibility under the previous set of rules. That led to a wave of lawsuits from recruits in the 2022 high school class seeking an extra year.
Pyburn was part of a suit filed by 30-plus athletes in Louisiana that won a temporary restraining order allowing them to play in college this academic year. To regain their college eligibility, Pyburn and other players who spent time in NFL camps or on preseason rosters would need to terminate their pro contracts and repay any pro earnings. Pyburn’s deal with the Bucs guaranteed him $115,000, including a $15,000 signing bonus.
Recently, the NFL ruled that rookies who sign a pro contract, are cut and later rejoin college football teams will not be eligible to return to the NFL this season. They are also not permitted to reenter the following year’s draft pool. Those players would be considered free agents who had signed and then been cut.
Last week, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was asked a similar question to Ballard about NFL players returning to play in college and said of his confusion, “I feel like I took a freakin’ gummy. I can’t even comprehend this stuff. It’s wild.”
McVay’s comments came on the heels of former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright preparing to join LSU following a brief stint in the NFL. Wright spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent before joining the Cleveland Browns.
After being waived by the Browns, Wright chose to reenter college football, signing with LSU, following the court ruling in Louisiana. Wright is practicing with LSU this week and could be cleared to play if a judge rules in his favor at a court hearing Thursday.
Longtime Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who faces LSU on Saturday, called this an “embarrassing” moment for college football.
“Rarely am I at a loss for words … it’s kind of embarrassing, honestly,” Swinney said Tuesday. “It’s just embarrassing that that’s where we are. I don’t blame the kids, trying to take advantage of the system. But it’s embarrassing for college football. …
“It’s a joke. We’ve got zero rules. And when you enforce rules, somebody just goes and finds a judge to say you can’t enforce those rules. Never did I feel like I’d be playing in an era like that, but that’s where we are right now.”
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