Dan Lanning Unloads: Why NFL Stars Returning to College Is ‘Unfair’
NFL Players Allowed Back in College Football? Here’s What’s Happening (And Why Coaches Are Mad)
The Big News in Simple Terms
Imagine you graduate high school, go to college, play football for four years, get drafted by an NFL team, and show up to their training camp. You’re a pro now, right?
Well, a judge in Louisiana just said "Not so fast!" to 16 players from the 2022 recruiting class.
IMPORTANT POINT
A temporary restraining order granted on August 20 allows these 16 former college players—who are currently on NFL rosters—to return to college football for a fifth year of eligibility. They can even enter the transfer portal to pick a new school.
Who Are These Players?
Two names you might recognize:
| Player | Former College Team | Current NFL Team |
|---|---|---|
| Dae’Quan Wright | Ole Miss (Tight End) | Cleveland Browns |
| Jack Pyburn | LSU (Defensive End) | On an NFL training camp roster |
Wait, it gets crazier: Wright actually played in a preseason game for the Browns on Saturday—and he’s also entered the transfer portal to play college football again. At the same time.
Why Is This Happening? (The Backstory)
Here’s the timeline, step by step:
- The NCAA made a new rule — Athletes now get five years to play five seasons, starting when they turn 19 or enroll in college (whichever comes first).
- Some players from the 2022 class sued — They argued this rule unfairly cut them off.
- A Louisiana court agreed (for now) — The judge granted a temporary restraining order letting 16 specific players get an extra year.
- The NCAA won a partial victory elsewhere — The Tenth Circuit Court granted a "stay" (pause) on a similar ruling, but more lawsuits are coming.
Coach Dan Lanning Is Not Happy
Oregon’s head coach Dan Lanning—whose team might actually benefit from this—spoke out strongly against it after practice on Saturday.
His Three Big Problems With It:
IMPORTANT POINT
Lanning’s concerns aren’t just coach talk—they highlight real fairness issues for current college players.
-
Once you go pro, you’re pro
"Once you go to the NFL, to me, you’re in the NFL. You don’t get the opportunity to come back." -
Roster limits mean someone gets cut
Teams now have strict roster caps. If a returning NFL player takes a spot, a current player who worked all spring and summer loses theirs.
"I don’t think that’s fair to the players that worked all summer, all spring and put themselves in position to be ready to work for a team to have somebody come back." - The motivation might be money, not school
The article suggests players fighting for an NFL practice squad spot might return to college for a "substantial payday" (hello, NIL deals) rather than for education.
Why This Matters for College Football
Many fans and media members agree with Lanning: this is just the latest sign that college football is "broken."
- No clear boundaries between college and pro sports
- Courts making roster decisions instead of coaches or the NCAA
- Current players bear the cost of legal chaos they didn’t create
Summary
- 16 players from the 2022 class got a court order allowing a fifth year of college eligibility
- They’re currently on NFL rosters (some even playing in preseason games)
- They can enter the transfer portal and join a college team right now
- Coach Dan Lanning (Oregon) calls it unfair: pro players shouldn’t return, roster limits hurt current players, and NIL money creates wrong incentives
- The NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule sparked the lawsuits
- More court battles are coming—this is far from over
FAQ
Can any NFL player go back to college now?
No. Only these 16 specific players from the 2022 recruiting class are covered by this specific court order. But more lawsuits are happening, so this could expand.
What is the "transfer portal"?
Think of it like a dating app for college athletes. You put your name in, other schools can see you’re available, and you can "match" with a new team without sitting out a year.
What are "roster limits"?
College teams can only have a certain number of players on scholarship (currently 85 for FBS football). If you add someone, you have to remove someone else.
What is NIL?
Name, Image, and Likeness. Since 2021, college athletes can get paid for endorsements, appearances, social media posts, etc. Some top players earn millions.
Why does the NCAA’s new "five-year rule" matter?
It sets a hard clock: you have five years to play five seasons starting at age 19 or enrollment. The plaintiffs argue this unfairly cuts off players who redshirted, transferred, or had COVID delays.
Article written based on reporting by Mark Harris for OutKick.