Two NFL rookies and five others reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal for a fifth season

Fresh off their move out of college football, two rookies who have also found roles in the NFL are among the players reported to have entered the NCAA transfer portal, joining five other former college football players seeking a fifth season of NCAA eligibility. The development matters because it highlights how the modern eligibility and offseason roster-management cycle can pull talent back into the NCAA ecosystem even after a professional opportunity begins.

While exact school destinations are not yet settled, the core theme is the NCAA’s “fifth-year” path and how it intersects with the transfer portal. For players whose college careers are eligible for an additional season, entering the portal functions as a visibility and timing tool. It allows them to explore fit with new programs before the next college football season, potentially reshaping depth charts at multiple positions across conferences.

The unusual part here is the inclusion of NFL rookies. For college fans, it underscores that a roster spot at the professional level does not always end a player’s college eligibility story. For teams, it creates a different type of offseason calculus, balancing the risk of trying to recruit an NFL-adjacent player whose long-term availability could depend on pro circumstances.

This kind of portal group also reflects how quickly college football rosters can change once eligibility becomes available. Programs that recruit through the portal do not only chase immediate needs like quarterback depth or linebacker depth. They also look at upside, scheme compatibility, and leadership, especially when a class of graduate-eligible or fifth-year players can bring experience that overlaps with multiple coaching tenures.

Because the report centers on portal entry rather than final commitments, the next step is what happens after the initial filings. Teams will watch whether these players actually complete a transfer and where they land, or whether some use the portal to keep options open before making a final decision. The answer can vary widely, depending on player development plans, professional status, and how quickly a team can credibly offer a role.

For now, the practical takeaway is that the transfer portal continues to blur the boundary between “college offseason” and “pro offseason.” Even for players already tied to the NFL as rookies, the NCAA still represents a route to another college season if eligibility remains intact and a transfer is completed. That, in turn, raises the stakes for incoming recruiting classes and for how programs manage spring and summer roster plans.