It’s a weird time to be a college football fan.
Between ever-changing eligibility and transfer rules, court rulings and federal legislation, it is hard to keep up with the daily headlines.
It’s difficult to imagine even a year ago that a player who got snaps at an NFL preseason game could return to college football, but prospective LSU tight end Dae’Quan Wright could be the first player to do so. Wright was waived by the Cleveland Browns and will join LSU if he clears NFL waivers.
While debates on whether this phenomenon is good or bad for college football continue vigorously, Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian is not in a rush to pledge his allegiance to either side of the debate. If another rule change popped up that benefited the Longhorns and allowed Sarkisian to add to his roster’s depth, great. If it doesn’t, he said that’s fine too.
What is important to Sarkisian, above all, is focusing on the team he has now — which he thinks is really good.
While the opportunity to grab players who were granted eligibility deep into the offseason has its advantages, it also can put head coaches in a tricky spot. Bringing in someone last-minute who isn’t familiar with the program could disrupt the chemistry of a team who has been playing and developing together since March.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I don’t even know if it’s good or not,” Sarkisian said. “I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know if it’s good because for us, I know we’ve got a locker room full of guys who have been working together, and their connectivity is so good for the last eight months. Is it worth rocking that boat?”
The Longhorns did have a late addition in offensive lineman Cole Hutson, who was granted a fifth-year of eligibility after filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in Travis County in response to the new five-for-five rule that grants athletes starting from the class of 2023 five years of eligibility on a running clock that begins when that athlete enters college.
Hutson rejoined the program Aug. 7 after coming to a separate agreement with the NCAA.
There is a stark difference between bringing in Hutson and someone completely new, as Hutson had been with the program for four years and has rapport with the players and position coaches. Sarkisian isn’t sure how he would handle bringing someone new this late, calling it a “delicate situation.”
What Sarkisian is clear in is his approval of the five-for-five eligibility, as he believes it can motivate the younger players in knowing that they can contribute each Saturday however big or small. It also allows coaches to play athletes without fear of burning their redshirt seasons.
“Now, we really can just keep developing all of our players,” Sarkisian said. “When they earn their opportunities, we can put them out there. They can play. They can compete. I think that is healthy for the psyche of the young men now more than ever.”
This may be the most chaotic time to be a college football head coach, and Sarkisian is definitely uncomfortable with the constant unknown, but he also welcomes that challenge, and whatever rules once thought insane, to come.
“I love the challenge of it all, and I love trying to find a way to find a competitive edge through all that,” he said. “Just tell us what the rules are, and we will play by them.”