A Louisiana court dropped a bombshell this week, granting a temporary restraining order that makes signed NFL players eligible to return to college athletics. This ruling hits especially close to home for us 12s, as it could impact our newly acquired running back, Anthony Hankerson. NFL teams are deep into training camp right now, busting their tails to get rosters down to 53 players by the August 30 deadline. For a lot of guys who don’t make the cut, college football might just be their fallback plan if the NCAA’s appeal falls through.
The Courtroom Drama Hitting the Gridiron
ESPN reported that 16 football players are part of this lawsuit, which actually involves 33 athletes across various sports all looking for a fifth year of eligibility. What’s wild is that four of those football players are currently on NFL rosters, under contract! Think about that: these guys are in professional training camp, and they could just, head back to campus? It’s a wild card nobody saw coming. The NCAA has been dealt a series of legal setbacks regarding its eligibility rules, and this one could be massive.
Hankerson and the Others in Limbo
Our guy, Anthony Hankerson, was originally an undrafted free agent running back signed by the Miami Dolphins in late April. They cut him on August 10, but thankfully, our Seahawks scooped him up! Hankerson played for Colorado in 2022 and 2023 before transferring to Oregon State for his final two college seasons. With the Beavers, he was a force, leading all independent players in rushing attempts and players from scrimmage in both campaigns. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each season, racking up 24 combined touchdowns. Now, his status is up in the air.
He’s not the only one. Jack Pyburn, an undrafted free agent pass rusher signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is still with them through camps so far. Pyburn played linebacker for Florida in 2022-2023, then switched to defensive end in 2024 before transferring to LSU and the SEC as a senior. The 6-foot-4, 264-pound Pyburn had 60 combined tackles in 2024 and 52 in 2025, with three combined sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Dae’Quan Wright, a tight end, was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in April, waived in August, and then picked up by the Cleveland Browns the next day. Wright played for Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, snagging 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns in his senior year. Wydett Williams, a safety and former teammate of Wright at Mississippi, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals after his senior season. He had 73 combined tackles, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery for Ole Miss in 2025.
What’s really telling is their current roster standing: Williams is listed as the third safety for the Cardinals, and Pyburn is fourth of five outside linebackers for the Buccaneers. But Hankerson and Wright, both recently cut and signed elsewhere, haven’t made their team’s depth charts yet.
What’s Next for the NCAA and Our Hawks?
This whole situation is a massive headache for the NCAA. Courts across the country are granting relief to ineligible athletes who already had every opportunity to compete. For the Seahawks, this is huge. We just brought in Hankerson, a guy who put up serious numbers in college, to bolster our backfield. What happens if he decides to take that fifth year? It leaves a hole, plain and simple. We’re all watching to see if the NCAA’s appeal goes anywhere, because a lot hangs in the balance, especially for players like Hankerson trying to make a name for themselves in the Emerald City. We need to know if this guy is here to stay.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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