NFL players enter NCAA transfer portal amid eligibility lawsuits

Former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright, who signed a free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and is training with the Cleveland Browns, entered the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday following a Louisiana court ruling. The decision also permits other athletes who have signed professional contracts to seek a fifth season of college eligibility, despite the NCAA’s longstanding ban on professionals returning to school.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by a group of more than 150 athletes in 15 states, challenging the NCAA’s new five-year, age-based eligibility policy. Judges in 11 of those cases have issued temporary restraining orders or injunctions that block the association from enforcing its rules. A separate federal case granted a class of 2022 high-school graduates a fifth year, which the NCAA is currently appealing.

Jack Pyburn, a former LSU edge rusher now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the primary plaintiff in the Louisiana case, which also includes three Ole Miss players previously coached by Lane Kiffin, now LSU’s head coach. Sources say the lawsuit was coordinated from LSU’s campus, reflecting broader institutional interest in expanding eligibility to retain talent.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reminded member schools of a league bylaw that restricts intra-conference transfers outside the NCAA’s designated portal window. The applicability of this rule to players using the court-issued restraining order remains uncertain, and SEC officials are reportedly discussing enforcement strategies.

The developments occur as NFL teams approach final roster cuts, while college programs begin preseason practice. One power-conference general manager noted the timing challenges, saying the situation creates “a wild time” for roster planning.