Tuesday’s public statement by Brendan Sorsby and an internal memo from the NFL put an end to speculation about where the talented quarterback will play this season after a gambling investigation and weeks of legal drama.The answer is: nowhere.Unless Sorsby backtracks from the announcement that he’s “fully committed” to preparing for the 2027 NFL Draft, he will not suit up for Texas Tech, nor will he try to find a backdoor way through a courtroom and into the pros. He will instead become the latest figure to take a de facto gap year between his college football career and the NFL.If there’s a perfect parallel to the Sorsby case — a player landing himself in college/pro limbo after betting on his own team — we couldn’t find one. There are, however, some imperfect examples of players who spent a year (or more) in football purgatory:Maurice ClarettThe former Ohio State running back is the most high-profile example.He starred as a freshman during the Buckeyes’ 2002 national championship season but was suspended the next season for violating NCAA rules. He sued to challenge the NFL rule that prevents players from entering the draft until they’re three years removed from high school, and he even won an initial victory in court. But an appeals court effectively overruled that decision in an opinion written by current Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor. When Clarett couldn’t enter the 2004 NFL Draft, he was stuck until the Broncos drafted him in the third round the next year. Denver cut him before he appeared in a regular-season game.Mike WilliamsAfter two standout seasons as a wide receiver at USC, Williams decided to turn pro early after Clarett’s initial legal victory. By the time that ruling was overturned, Williams had already hired an agent, ending his college career. He spent much of 2004 preparing for the pros in Georgia before the Lions drafted him 10th (one pick ahead of Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware). Two years later, Detroit traded him to the Raiders (where he was reunited with his former college coach, Lane Kiffin). Williams never really panned out; he played for five teams, accumulating 30 starts and 1,526 receiving yards.Service academy graduatesTo be clear: We are not equating Sorsby’s ineligibility to the military service of Navy legend Roger Staubach. But players from Army, Navy and Air Force have historically had to spend time away from the field to fulfill their military commitments. Staubach, the 1963 Heisman Trophy winner, was out of the game for four seasons and did a tour of duty in Vietnam before leading the Cowboys to a pair of Super Bowl wins. Among the more recent examples: Bryce Fisher spent two years in active duty in the Air Force between being drafted by the Bills and joining the roster. He started 48 games across seven seasons as a defensive end.Josh GordonGordon had multiple drug issues in college and was suspended indefinitely by Baylor in 2011. The move happened too late for him to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, so he transferred to Utah. Players and staffers from that season continued to rave about his talent years later, even though Gordon only worked on the scout team and never appeared in a game. The Browns took him in the supplemental draft a year later. Gordon’s NFL career had high highs (an All-Pro season in 2013, a Super Bowl LIII ring from his time with the Patriots) and low lows (more substance abuse issues and suspensions). He finished his career with 252 catches, last appearing in a game in 2022.COVID-19 opt-outsThe uncertainty surrounding the 2020 pandemic led to a wave of opt-outs that fall as players prioritized some combination of health concerns, family issues and a desire to start preparing for the next level. The NFL did not seem bothered by its season off; four opt-outs (Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Micah Parsons and Rashawn Slater) were drafted in the top 13 picks in 2021. They’ve combined for 16 Pro Bowl appearances. On the other side, quarterback Jamie Newman was a big-name transfer after going from Wake Forest to Georgia but never suited up for the Bulldogs. He went undrafted and was briefly with the Eagles before spending 2022 in the CFL.