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The Big Ten is putting its foot down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The conference has unanimously approved a rule that will prevent players who have entered the NFL from returning to college football and joining a team in the conference, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Under the new rule, players who declared for the NFL Draft and did not withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a professional league simply won’t be eligible for a Big Ten roster. The rule change comes as several former college players have explored returning to the college game after being released by NFL teams.<\/p>\n The issue gained steam after LSU added<\/a> former Cleveland Browns<\/a> tight end Dae’Quan Wright, as well as former New Orleans Saints<\/a> defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. Both players were among 16 athletes granted a chance to receive a fifth year after a Louisiana court issued a temporary restraining order allowing NFL players to return to college football.<\/p>\n The SEC also announced Monday<\/a> that it opposed NFL players returning to college football, while coaches around the country have expressed concerns about the situation.<\/p>\n Ohio State<\/a>‘s Ryan Day indicated his program would consider eligible players if necessary, while Oregon<\/a>‘s Dan Lanning opposed the idea, pointing to roster limits and concerns about taking spots away from players who had already spent the offseason preparing for the season.<\/p>\n “Do I like anything about it? Absolutely not,” Day said, according to ESPN’s Heather Dinich<\/a>. “But we got to do what’s right for Ohio State. So it’s sort of a day-to-day thing right now, and like anything, we’re just going to try to adapt.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So, the Big Ten is just saying, “No.” We’ll see if it sticks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBig Ten says NFL players can’t return<\/h2>\n
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