Kirby Smart weighs the ripple effects of NFL players returning to college for a fifth season

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart addressed a continuing feature of the modern college game Tuesday, the idea that players who have been on NFL rosters can still return to college for an extra year. Smart’s comments came as programs plan for roster depth beyond the traditional recruiting cycle, and as coaches look for ways to retool quickly when opportunities open up.

The context Smart pointed to centers on eligibility for a fifth season, which can matter for teams that are trying to fill immediate needs with experienced players. In his discussion, Smart highlighted the broader challenge faced by every SEC program: when the NFL and college rosters intersect, college staffs are forced to monitor additional recruitment paths that are not tied only to high school prospects.

Smart also tied that conversation directly to the LSU situation. According to the report, two former Ole Miss players are among the names being connected to LSU as potential fits if they choose to return from the NFL back to college football for a fifth season.

The report further connects the LSU conversation to the Ole Miss-Georgia matchup from last season’s Sugar Bowl, identifying that two starters from Ole Miss’ quarterfinal win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff could be part of the broader churn involving NFL rosters and a possible return to college. That is the kind of overlap that can swing team-building plans, because it potentially brings in players with firsthand familiarity with high-stakes SEC and postseason environments.

For Georgia, the issue is not just who could join a rival. Smart’s comments reflect how difficult it is for a coaching staff to project roster availability when players move between levels, particularly when eligibility rules allow for a return after time on an NFL roster. The fifth-year provision gives players a decision point that can reverberate across the conference, including in August roster planning.

LSU, under coach Lane Kiffin, has every incentive to pursue players who can contribute quickly and provide depth and experience in key roles. If the players being referenced decide to return to college, LSU would be adding a specific type of talent: athletes who have been close to the NFL system and can potentially compress the timeline from arrival to meaningful snaps.

Still, the report frames these possibilities as targets rather than confirmed transfers, and no specific player names, positions, or formal commitments were included in the available material. The next step for fans and staffs is straightforward: watch for official transfer portal updates and any public confirmation from the schools involved once decisions are finalized.