Pro Athletes’ Return to College Sports, Explained

Imagine turning on a college basketball game and seeing a player who was on an NBA roster just a few months earlier. It sounds improbable, but recent changes to National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility rules mean professional athletes returning to college sports could soon become reality. 

On Aug. 19, a Louisiana state court judge granted 33 athletes a temporary restraining order allowing them to return to college for one more season. Among them was Dae’Quan Wright, a former University of Mississippi tight end who recently played in a preseason game for the Cleveland Browns before being waived. Days later, he announced his commitment back to Louisiana State University. 

The move raises a major question: why are professional athletes allowed to return to college sports after signing a contract in the pro leagues? 

The shift stems from recent changes to NCAA eligibility rules that create avenues for former pros to compete at the collegiate level. This is a major change from how college sports have worked in the past, when playing professionally usually meant an athlete’s college career was over. Now, former NBA players could potentially have another chance to play college basketball, bringing experience from the highest level of the sport back to the college game.

Wright played college football at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss before going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. He then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and was later claimed by the Cleveland Browns. After being waived by Cleveland, Wright attempted to return to college football and join LSU. 

A Louisiana judge temporarily allowed Wright and other athletes to pursue another season of college eligibility, making his situation one of the clearest examples of a former professional athlete trying to return to college sports.