Former NFL players Zxavian Harris, Dae’Quan Wright and Blake Cotton have launched a lawsuit against the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference, arguing that recent eligibility rules unfairly deny them a fifth year of college football participation. Their complaint centers on whether the SEC can enforce its own protocols that restrict former professionals from returning to campus rosters.
Legal Stakes and Institutional Responses
The SEC has proposed a suite of penalties for universities that field former NFL or NBA athletes, including substantial fines, suspensions for coaching staff and the revocation of voting privileges for the schools involved. The conference’s 15‑0 vote on the new measures underscores a unanimous decision to tighten its grip on eligibility, while the NCAA defends its authority to set the rules that govern student‑athletes.
Around 450 athletes are caught in the litigation, with roughly 300 granted eligibility under the new framework and about 150 still denied. The dispute hinges on whether the NCAA’s recent rule changes were adopted too late for players who turned professional before the adjustments took effect, a point the athletes maintain they signed pro contracts because the fifth‑year option was unavailable under prior regulations.
State officials have entered the fray. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has publicly backed the SEC’s stance, warning that LSU could face sanctions for hiring former NFL players. In contrast, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has criticized the NCAA for what she calls a “bait‑and‑switch” tactic, arguing that the policy shift harms universities, coaches and student‑athletes alike.
The courtroom focus now rests on Judge William Jorden’s assessment of whether the NCAA should be held in contempt for penalizing institutions that employ former professionals. As the case proceeds, the outcome could reshape eligibility pathways for athletes across the country and redefine the balance of power between the SEC, the NCAA and the schools they oversee.