Marcus Peterson, MBA
Founder & CEO of ProEdge Branding | Former NFL Athlete | Featured in MSNBC, ESPN, Medium, Elle Men’s Magazine, Google Insider, and Market Watch.
with ProEdge Branding, LLC
Current NFL player Dae’Quan Wright could be the beginning of something MUCH bigger than a college football comeback. He is an undrafted NFL tight end that can go from the NFL ? Waived ? Transfer Portal ? LSU.
He is expected to play for LSU this season after not just signing an NFL contract but playing in an NFL pre season game. That would make him the first known player to go from the NFL back to college football.
Some people think it is unfair, as do I but honestly, I think we’re missing the bigger picture. This could fundamentally change the relationship between college football and the NFL. Think about the hundreds of players who enter NFL camps every year and not every player is going to make the 53-man roster.
Historically, once that door closed, the athlete had to figure out: “What’s next?”, Maybe the CFL, maybe another league, maybe coaching, maybe corporate America, maybe going back to school, or maybe starting over completely.
Now let’s imagine a different pathway: NFL Camp ? Cut ? College Return ? NIL/Revenue Share ? Football & Career Development ? NFL Draft. That creates a completely different professional ecosystem.
The PROS are significant: this gives fringe NFL players another development and income opportunity, gives college programs access to players with professional experience, and gives athletes more control over their careers instead of treating an NFL release as the end of their football journey.
But there are real CONS too: does this take opportunities away from current college players? Will programs prioritize experienced NFL players over developing younger talent? Could NIL and revenue sharing widen the competitive gap? And where do we draw the line between a college athlete and a professional athlete?
What fascinates me most is that the transfer portal could eventually become more than a college recruiting marketplace it could become a career reset marketplace for athletes. Whether you think that’s good or bad, the athlete now has more leverage.
#NFL #NCAA #NIL