Three NFL players win court order to play another college season
A Louisiana judge issued a temporary restraining order allowing three NFL roster members to return to college for an extra year of eligibility.
A state court in Louisiana granted a temporary restraining order that permits three athletes on NFL rosters to return to college for an additional season. The players—former Ole Miss wide receivers Dae’Quan Wright and Wydett Williams and former Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson—are part of a lawsuit accusing the NCAA of breaching its “covenant of good faith” by refusing to grant them a fifth year of play. Their legal team, led by attorney Ryan Downton, indicated the athletes must request release from their NFL contracts by Sept. 1 to be eligible under the order.
Wright is listed with the Browns, Williams with the Cardinals, and Hankerson with the Seahawks organization. The case follows the NCAA’s recent overhaul of eligibility rules, which now allow five seasons within a five-year window but have eliminated many prior waivers. Plaintiffs argue the new policy still denies them the same opportunities afforded to other student-athletes.
Why it matters
It shows how recent NCAA rule changes are being challenged by players seeking extra college playing time.
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