Brendan Sorsby’s future is up in the air. The Texas Tech quarterback is in the middle of a high-profile gambling scandal, which could alter his career trajectory in a way he never envisioned. The 22-year-old will soon have a decision to make about whether he will enter this summer’s supplemental draft or play another college season, if he is allowed to. However, the latter is easier said than done, given the circumstances he finds himself in.
NFL Executives Wary of Gambling on Brendan Sorsby
It almost feels like a race against time. NFL teams have been scrambling to find out as much as they can about Sorsby’s gambling allegations, hoping to gain an edge in bidding for an early pick in the supplemental draft. Teams such as the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and a few others have been linked to the Texas Tech product. However, most are unwilling to take a shot in the dark.
“It’s a red flag, especially at QB,” an NFL executive told The Athletic. “Constantly worrying about your QB betting instead of working is going to be a problem for a lot of GMs. If it’s really an addiction, that doesn’t get better in one offseason.”
The controversy began in 2022, when Sorsby was a redshirt freshman. He allegedly bet on Indiana football games while at the Hoosiers and was subsequently investigated by Ohio gambling officials. As things stand, he has taken an indefinite leave of absence after entering a residential treatment program for gambling addiction.
Now the question is whether Sorsby will be found guilty of a minor infraction or something that could jeopardize his career.
The quarterback is determined to clear his name and has retained renowned lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, hoping to win the eligibility battle and play another college season. Given his talent, he would benefit from Texas Tech’s big-money roster, but the situation is out of his hands at the moment.
If the NCAA suspends him or rules him ineligible, Sorsby could be sidelined for a long time, and teams might become reluctant to take a chance on him in the future, believing he would fall behind in his development.
“This is a player who is in the conversation for the top two rounds next year in the draft,” another executive said. “He’s one of the guys scouts were excited to evaluate. They were excited about this year and saw steady progression.”
By seeking an expedited ruling, Sorsby is showing that he is determined to play the 2026 season at Texas Tech. He could earn upwards of $5 million this year if he plays for the team, while entering the supplemental draft would present a much tougher road ahead. He would be nearly three months behind schedule and could struggle to adapt to pro-style systems.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
If he declares for the supplemental draft by late June, the NFL will set a summer draft date and begin a bidding process similar to a silent auction.
However, everything could depend on the outcome of Sorsby’s investigation. Was he simply caught up in the culture of sports betting, or are there more serious gambling concerns that could come to light? An anonymous coach believes it is the former.
“He got caught,” one college coach said to Athletic about Sorsby. “But he’s probably not overly different from kids in college football or sports in general. They’re going to make mistakes. We all did at that age.”
But could the “mistake” have serious consequences? Time will tell. If found guilty, Sorsby could go approximately 21 months between his final college football game and his first NFL preseason game. Given the stakes, such a setback could potentially be career-ending.
