NFL makes bombshell decision to BAN any players trying to quit the league for a lucrative return to college

The NFL has reminded its teams that any player who makes the shock decision to return to college football will be banned from signing with another this season.

A host of players have attempted to transfer to college programs after featuring in NFL training camps, including LSU reaching agreements with two high-profile former Ole Miss players, defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae'Quan Wright.

Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent before being waived earlier this month.

Wright was also on an NFL roster, only clearing waivers on Tuesday after being cut by the Cleveland Browns.  

Both players were part of a recent lawsuit from a group of 2022 recruits seeking a fifth year of eligibility that saw a Louisiana judge grant a temporary restraining order against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 

On Wednesday, however, the Big 12 Conference followed the SEC and Big Ten in banning players who were on NFL rosters from returning to college.

Now, NFL executive Troy Vincent has reiterated the longstanding policy at the league's meetings on Wednesday.

According to a memo seen by ESPN, chiefs told teams that any player who returns to college would not be eligible to play in the NFL until 2027.

NFL rules state that 'a player who signed an NFL Player Contract that is subsequently terminated by the NFL Club may return to college football, subject to applicable NCAA eligibility rules.

'Such a player may practice and play football with another NFL Club by signing an NFL Player Contract, or with another professional or amateur football league. Any offset of compensation previously paid or guaranteed to the player will be governed by the terms of the applicable NFL Player Contract.'

However, the rule adds: 'Any player who returns to a college football team may not join an NFL Club for the remainder of that year. An NFL Club that signs such a player is subject to discipline by the Commissioner, including the loss of draft selections and negotiating rights to the player involved.'

The rules adopted by the three conferences bars schools from adding professional athletes in football or any other conference-sponsored sport. The league said its rule would apply independently of the status of NCAA eligibility determinations.

According to the Big 12 decision, athletes would be ineligible if they declared for the draft or supplemental draft of any professional sports league and did not timely withdraw before the draft, have been listed on a professional roster or signed a contract to provide athletic services with any sports league.

The SEC´s rule approved Tuesday banned players who have been drafted by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or listed on rosters in those leagues. The Big Ten only included football in its decision and is expected to later address other sports.

At least two players who signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents this offseason were hoping to return to college and play at No. 11 LSU.

Wright initially signed with Philadelphia, but was waived August 10 and claimed by Cleveland, which waived him Monday. Harris signed with the Saints in May, went through their offseason program and was let go August 8 after being on the non-football injury list.

Both players entered the NFL draft because they had used up their four years of eligibility. The NCAA announced a rule change in June allowing players who began college in 2023 or later to have five years to play five years of sports in college.

That rule didn't apply to Wright and Harris, who entered college in 2022 but they are among the players who have sued the NCAA, arguing they´re being deprived of education and potential name, image and likeness benefits by being excluded from the rule.

Cal football general manager Ron Rivera said Wednesday he hopes the Atlantic Coast Conference joins the Big Ten and SEC in turning away former pros.

'I think when somebody makes a decision, goes in a certain direction, I think they've made their decision,' said Rivera, a former NFL player and coach. 'I'm disappointed that people are looking for ways to cheat the system or beat the system.'

LSU coach Lane Kiffin fiercely defended his efforts to recruit fifth-year players amid the reports Wright and Harris were set to sign with his program. 

Kiffin said: 'We have, you know, made a decision to recruit some kids around the country, and through these multiple injunctions around the country, which, this is not a first time in college sports, players were granted a fifth year of eligibility in multiple sports.

'And through them winning their injunction and entry into the portal, they're available to recruit. So ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them. 

'At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they're either going to play for you or they're going to play somewhere else around the country. We made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are.' 

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the state's Court of Appeals put on hold an order that would have given former Vanderbilt player Jalen Washington and 18 other basketball players a fifth year of eligibility.

The ruling gives the NCAA a win in ongoing litigation across the nation in federal and state courts involving college athletes who contend they should get a fifth year of competition under revised NCAA eligibility rules adopted in June.

Washington, who transferred to Tennessee, and the other plaintiffs are now ineligible, pending resolution of the NCAA´s appeal of the lower court´s ruling.

Washington was the lead plaintiff in a complaint filed July 6 by the Texas Trial Group seeking the injunction. Others included Chendall Weaver, last at Texas; A.J. Storr of Mississippi; Jason Edwards of Providence; and Daniel Egbuniwe of St. Bonaventure.

The NCAA also has won stays of injunctions in Ohio and New Jersey state courts and in a federal court in Colorado.