Former Philadelphia Eagles scout John Middlekauff believes the latest NFL-to-college eligibility loophole has pushed college football into uncomfortable territory, even if he does not blame Lane Kiffin for taking advantage of it.
Middlekauff addressed LSU’s pursuit of players coming directly from NFL training camps during a recent appearance on Colin Cowherd’s podcast, questioning where college football is supposed to draw the line.
John Middlekauff Says NFL-to-College Moves Cross a Line
“Saying that you can go to a training camp and then return to college feels like we’re crossing a line here that most people are going to agree upon,” Middlekauff said in an Instagram clip. “Like, this is insane.”
Middlekauff, who worked in Philadelphia’s scouting department before moving into sports media, argued that repeated courtroom losses have steadily weakened the NCAA’s ability to enforce a coherent eligibility structure.
“The problem is every time these guys sue, they win,” Middlekauff said.
He nevertheless stopped short of blaming Kiffin for LSU’s aggressive approach. “I will defend Lane Kiffin here for doing this,” Middlekauff said. “These are the rules that he’s handed.”
He pointed to Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Jack Pyburn as another example.
Pyburn, a former LSU defender, was among 16 players granted temporary relief in Louisiana that opened a path to another college season. He recorded two sacks in his first NFL preseason game while fighting for a Buccaneers roster spot.
PREDICT THE CFB SEASON: PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor
Middlekauff also said an NFL scout told him a top-25 Big Ten program had intentionally kept roster spots available because coaches expected players cut from NFL teams to potentially become eligible again.
That possibility is now running into resistance from the conferences themselves.
SEC Moves To Block Former NFL Players From Returning
The SEC adopted a new policy Tuesday prohibiting players who have been drafted by the NFL, NBA, or WNBA, or listed on rosters in those leagues, from returning to compete at conference schools.
Following meetings with the Presidents, Chancellors, and Athletics Directors of the Southeastern Conference, the SEC will enforce the following policy: pic.twitter.com/LohWnb7G1J
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) August 25, 2026
The policy directly threatens LSU’s plans for former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Both played for Kiffin at Ole Miss before signing professional contracts this offseason, then angled for moves to LSU after being released.
Wright caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 while posting an 80.6 PFSN TE Impact grade, which ranked 20th nationally.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free College Fantasy Simulator
The SEC’s move puts LSU on notice and gives commissioner Greg Sankey broad authority to enforce the new policy.
The Big Ten adopted its own ban earlier Tuesday. That development addresses the exact concern Middlekauff raised before the conferences acted.
He believes the scenario of NFL training camps serving as a temporary stop before another college season crosses a line. The SEC now appears to agree, even if the courts and the NCAA have not yet settled where that line legally belongs.
