A group of former college football players will get a fifth season of NCAA eligibility, including a couple of NFL rookies.
According to USA TODAY's Austin Curtwright, a Louisiana judge granted a number of former college football players a temporary restraining order to return to college for another season in response to a recent Colorado court ruling.
Per ESPN's Max Olson, seven players who were part of the lawsuit have entered the NCAA transfer portal to rejoin the college ranks. Who are they?
The seven players are SMU running back TJ Harden, Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, BYU offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho, James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, Appalachian State cornerback Ethan Johnson and New Mexico
kicker Luke Drzewiecki, per Olson.
Wright is an active member of the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent, while Harris spent some of the summer with the New Orleans Saints. Now, they'll be eligible to return to college competition with a new team.
Seven new transfer portal entries so far thanks to the Louisiana TRO:
— Max Olson (@max_olson) August 20, 2026
RB TJ Harden, SMU
TE Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss
OL Weylin Lapuaho, BYU
DL Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss
LB Trent Hendrick, James Madison
CB Ethan Johnson, App State
K Luke Drzewiecki, New Mexico pic.twitter.com/pRTYRCDqLT
This is obviously a huge development for college football, as it would have felt incredulous a few years ago for an NFL rookie to return to college after not making a team's roster.
However, these guys will likely get that chance unless something changes on a legal front.
Will the NCAA appeal?
The organization will, per Curtwright.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: How 2 NFL rookies entered CFB transfer portal along with 5 others
