Several athletes, including some who signed contracts with NFL teams, were granted a temporary restraining order by a Louisiana court that would make them eligible to return to college sports, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Former Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson (Seattle Seahawks), former Florida and LSU pass rusher Jack Pyburn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and former Ole Miss starters Wydett Williams (Arizona Cardinals) and Dae’Quan Wright (Cleveland Browns) are on NFL rosters and were part of the lawsuit.
NFL teams are deep into training camp, and rosters have to be cut to 53 players by Aug. 30. Many who don’t make those clubs could look for a fallback plan in college football, barring a successful appeal by the NCAA.
According to ESPN, 16 football players were part of the lawsuit that included 33 athletes across several sports who are seeking a fifth year of eligibility.
The NCAA has been dealt a series of legal setbacks regarding its eligibility rules.