The SEC has followed the Big Ten — and gone against LSU coach Lane Kiffin — by stipulating that players who signed pro contracts cannot return to a team in the conference.SEC presidents, chancellors and athletic directors met Tuesday and announced that schools are not permitted to have athletes who:
Previously declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA draft, and did not “appropriately withdraw” from those drafts.
Signed a contract with an NFL or other professional league, NBA or G-League, or WNBA or affiliated team.
Been listed on a roster by any of those professional teams.
The SEC said commissioner Greg Sankey was “authorized to enforce this expectation with penalties against member institutions.” It did not stipulate what those penalties were.The news comes amid various state court injunctions, including in Louisiana, pursued by football players who were in NFL camps and attempting to return to college for what would be their fifth season. Kiffin, set to coach his first game at LSU in less than two weeks, has pursued a couple of those players, including tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who had been with the Cleveland Browns.Kiffin defended his actions Monday, echoing what players’ lawyers said: that the players did not know the NCAA would change the rule to allow players a fifth year of eligibility. Kiffin also said that if LSU didn’t recruit the players, others would.
