Tennessee athletics director Danny White said NFL players attempting to return to college football was an “avoidable circumstance.”
But it’s too late to head off the problem. Now numerous players cut from NFL rosters are planning to join college football rosters, particularly with coach Lane Kiffin at LSU.
A frustrated White told Knox News that a collective bargaining agreement would’ve solved this problem years ago.
“This is yet another example, along with hundreds of other things, that could be included in a CBA,” White said on Aug. 25. “It would be clearly and transparently understood by all parties involved. But for some reason, we’re not able to do that. And here we are.”
White is headed to SEC headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, for a regularly
scheduled meeting of conference leaders on Aug. 25. They will undoubtedly discuss the issue of NFL players trying to play for SEC teams. Other conferences already have taken action.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Big Ten plans to pass a rule that bans players returning from the NFL to play for a Big Ten school. If they did not withdraw from the NFL draft, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a pro league, they would not allowed on a Big Ten roster.
According to a report from Yahoo Sports, the ACC and Big 12 are also set to explore a ban on professional players. If that comes to fruition, three of the Power Four conferences in college football would have a prohibition of some sort in place.
Those moves come in the wake of the SEC issuing a statement on Aug. 24 opposing NFL players returning to college.
"College athletes, not former professional athletes, have been at the heart of the Southeastern Conference. Individuals who choose to leave college athletics, sign professional playing contracts, and compete professionally should not then be permitted to return to college competition," the statement read.
Why Danny White believes a CBA would solve new problem
The CBA would be between college athletes and the NCAA or power conferences or an entity representing the interests of member institutions.
White has been selling the idea of a CBA in college football and basketball for years. He believes it could serve as a solution to unbalanced skyrocketing NIL spending, constant free agency of the transfer portal and other issues threatening the stability of college sports.
Add this new problem of NFL players returning to college to that list.
“I don’t know (if we’re closer to a CBA in college sports),” White said. “I have stopped predicting what our industry will or will not do. But I will always think, whether (a CBA) happens or not, it would be by far the healthiest and smartest decision we could make.
“If we had done that when we should have – three or four years ago – the rules of engagement would’ve been clearly outlined. But this is what happens.”
Why court ruling could give Lane Kiffin two NFL players
Players cut from NFL rosters in preseason intend to play for Kiffin at LSU. They sued the NCAA in a Louisiana court to gain a fifth year of eligibility and return to college football without penalty.
White said it’s another problem that a CBA would’ve solved.
“You can’t have your rules and your (organization) structure predicated on the next lawsuit that happens or lobbying congress to do things that they can’t constitutionally do,” White said. “That’s been our strategy, and I think it’s proven over and over again to be a failed strategy.”
LSU is reportedly expected to have two former NFL players — both of whom played for now-LSU coach Kiffin at Ole Miss last season — join its roster ahead of Week 1's opener against Clemson. The first is former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who was waived by the Cleveland Browns, while the second is former Rebels defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who was waived by the New Orleans Saints after signing as an undrafted free agent.
Wright and Harris are among a group of former college players that sued the NCAA in Louisiana over its fifth-year eligibility rule.
In June, the NCAA passed a new rule that gives each athlete five years of eligibility to compete. But the rule came too late for the outgoing seniors from 2025-26 academic year to take advantage of, so they instead went to the NFL.
Now some of those players who played only four seasons want to utilize their fifth year of college eligibility just like current and future players can under the new NCAA rule. Their argument is that they would’ve stayed in school if they knew the rule was going to change following their senior season and the 2026 NFL Draft in April.
A Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order that awards the players in that case a fifth year of eligibility and the ability to transfer. That state court also suspended the NCAA’s ability to enforce its rules banning professional players from returning to college.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Tennessee AD Danny White believes NFL players returning to college was avoidable
