The ongoing eligibility battle in college football has created an unusual dilemma for players caught between the collegiate and professional levels. Some athletes who entered NFL training camps now have a potential path back to college, giving them another opportunity to play and earn NIL money.
But that decision could also affect how professional teams view them later. One former Steelers defensive tackle believes players should think carefully before making the move.
Breiden Fehoko Warns NFL Teams Could Blackball Returning Players
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko raised concerns about the professional consequences facing players who leave NFL opportunities to return to college.
Fehoko said he spoke with NFL executives before sharing a warning on X about how those decisions could be viewed by teams.
“I spoke to a couple of NFL execs, and all I’ll say is don’t be surprised if these kids who go back to college and play get blackballed from the NFL,” Fehoko wrote on X. “I hope this extra year is worth it.”
I spoke to a couple of NFL execs and all I’ll say is don’t be surprised if these kids who go back to college and play get blackballed from the NFL.
I hope this extra year is worth it.
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) September 3, 2026
His comments come as a court ruling has opened a temporary path for players from the 2022 college recruiting class to seek another season of eligibility. Several players have already left NFL training camps or professional rosters to pursue that option, creating a rare crossover between the two levels.
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Dae’Quan Wright is among the players making that choice. The tight end spent the 2026 preseason with the Cleveland Browns before entering the transfer portal and joining LSU. Zxavian Harris followed a similar route after the New Orleans Saints waived him, with both players now set to play for Lane Kiffin.
The situation is not limited to LSU.
Running back TJ Harden appeared in a preseason game for the Seattle Seahawks before exploring a return to college, while offensive lineman Cole Hutson fought for eligibility to return to Texas.
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Fehoko’s warning raises a separate issue from the legal battle, which is whether NFL teams will view these players differently when they try to return to professional football. It arrives at a time when a growing list of players is choosing another college season and NIL opportunities after already pursuing an NFL opportunity.
The SEC has opposed the eligibility change, with Commissioner Greg Sankey arguing that college and professional sports need a clear separation. The conference also filed a federal lawsuit against LSU after a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction allowing former professionals to pursue roster spots.
The broader case involves about 450 athletes as plaintiffs in similar lawsuits, with roughly 180 already receiving some form of temporary relief from the courts, according to NCAA data.
For players weighing their next move, the legal opening provides another route to college football, but Fehoko’s warning suggests the decision could carry consequences well beyond the 2026 season.
