Former UCLA and SMU football running back T.J. Harden, who was waived by the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks on Monday after playing in Seattle’s exhibition opener, entered the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.
This, following a court ruling that has granted an additional season of eligibility to 16 members of the recruiting class of 2022.
The fact some NFL players could be playing for colleges again in season openers in a couple of weeks has ignited debate across the sports world.
“No, I guess, is the correct answer,” Kansas football coach Lance Leipold said Thursday when asked if he ever thought he’d see pros returning to the college gridiron to resume on-campus careers.
“But I was probably going to say, since taking this job, nothing surprises me anymore,” the sixth-year Jayhawks coach quickly added. “You can think about how much has changed in 5 1/2 years, or however (long) we’ve been doing this together. It continually seems to change what it’s going to be.
“I just hope we can get to some normality in this and how it really works, and years of eligibility and opportunities, whatever that may be, but yes it’s definitely unique. We’ll kind of see what happens here.”
Harden was part of a group of 16 players who sought a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, granting them each an additional year of college eligibility.
According to cbssports.com’s Jared Dubin, the players’ attorneys stated that “recent NCAA rule changes allowing players to play five years within a five-year span beginning when they enroll in college or in the academic year following their 19th birthday should also extend to players who already exhausted their previously granted four years of eligibility within a five-year span.
Dubin explained that “a previous court ruling granted preliminary relief to Division I athletes who began college in 2022-23 and exhausted four seasons of eligibility. The subsequent Louisiana (court) order (Wednesday) extended immediate relief to Harden and other players whose circumstances included signing NFL contracts or participating in NFL training camps. The TRO does not constitute a final ruling in the lawsuit, but it provides the ability to pursue another opportunity while the case proceeds.”
Thus, Leipold was asked whether he’s looking to add any (NFL) players from the portal. KU’s season opener is fast approaching — the Jayhawks play host to Long Island on Sept. 4 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
“You say adding from the portal … I haven’t seen all the extra names. I’ve just seen a couple of the court cases,” Leipold said. “We (will) continue to monitor the situation. Is it a possibility? It could be.
“Again, like a lot of things, you get mixed reviews if this is going to stay, and and if you do add, we’re talking compliance. You saw it in basketball a year or so ago. Guys come from the G League and they play (in college again), and the next thing is they can’t play. Nobody wants to really get into that situation or where that’s at.”
Leipold said he is following the early NFL career of someone who won’t be returning to college — former KU quarterback Jalon Daniels, who led a pair of touchdowns drives in Tampa Bay’s 24-16 exhibition-opening win over the New York Jets on Friday night in New Jersey. Daniels is an undrafted free agent battling for a spot on the Bucs’ roster or practice squad.
“I did text with him before and after the game. (I’m) extremely happy for him and proud of him,” Leipold said. “As I told him before he went into that game how proud I was of him and who he is, as I am with all our guys that are getting that (NFL) opportunity.
“We were at Corinth Square (for pep rally) during that game (Friday),” Leipold added, “but we were driving back with Blake Herold and Calvin Clements (KU linemen) We were sitting there looking at things and they’re watching it on their phone. Cole Ballard (KU QB) was with us as well.
“They’re watching it on their phone. We stopped to get something to eat, so I had a chance to see a little bit of what he (Daniels) did and obviously got a chance to see a lot of those highlights and I think a lot of people in the Tampa area, let alone in the NFL, got a chance to witness what Jalon’s all about.
“But more importantly,” the coach said, “after the game, to see that smile and that excitement and the genuine enthusiasm of his personality, which is extremely contagious to a program and organization (was rewarding).”