The SEC is making its eligibility message clear: Once you turn pro you are not welcome back.
In a meeting with league presidents, athletic directions, and chancellors, the premier collegiate conference decided to prohibit anyone who has previously declared for professional basketball and football.
The policy — which was unanimously voted upon by a 16-0 tally, according to ESPN — says that SEC institutions are “not permitted” to have athletes on its roster if they have:
- Previously declared for the NFL, NBA, or WNBA draft, and did not appropriately withdraw.
- Signed a contract with an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) team.
- Been listed on an NFL (or other professional football league), NBA/G-League, or WNBA (or affiliate) roster.
The conference’s announcement added that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey “is authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against member institutions.”
It’s still not clear exactly how universities might get reprimanded if they do not follow the guidelines, but an SEC spokesperson told ESPN that the penalties are “to be announced.”
In a statement on Monday, the SEC said that the moves to and from college and pro will “blur the line” between the game’s two levels.
“College sports are for college athletes,” the conference added. “The current confusion around national eligibility standards emphasizes the need to advance the Protect College Sports Act.”
The SEC’s landmark decision comes just hours after the Big Ten announced that they plan to pass a rule to prevent its member schools from allowing players back who have already played in the NFL.
Their rule, similar to the SEC, will not let a player play for one of its member schools if they have declared for the draft and didn’t withdraw, appeared on an NFL roster or signed a contract with a professional league, according to ESPN.
ESPN also reported that both the ACC and Big 12 are not too far behind in passing guidelines of their own.
Not all within college football agree with the decision, however, with LSU head coach Lane Kiffin defending his decision to recruit former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris.
“We have, you know, made a decision to recruit some kids around the country, and through these multiple injunctions around the country, which, this is not a first time in college sports, players were granted a fifth year of eligibility in multiple sports,” Kiffin said. “And through them winning their injunction and entry into the portal, they’re available to recruit. So ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them.
“At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play somewhere else around the country. We made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are.”
