XFL To Consider Taking Players Before They Are Eligible For The NFL Draft

Things can get rather interesting in the coming years if the re-boot version of The XFL is a success. Monday night at Levi’s Stadium, the nation watched as Trevor Lawrence dismantled The Mighty Alabama Crimson Tide to the tune of 347 yards and three touchdowns as The Clemson Tigers dismantled them 44-16.

Unfortunately for him, he won’t be able to enter The National Football League (NFL) until 2021. But he would potentially have an option to become a pro a year earlier if he wanted to go that route.

Luck’s Take On Eligiblity

The XFL is set to begin to play in 2020 and The League’s Commissioner Oliver Luck has openly suggested that the league could become a safe haven for players who don’t want to spend three years in college waiting to be eligible for The NFL.

During a December Podcast Interview with Brian Berger of The Sports Business Radio Road Show, Luck said flatly: “We’re not subject to that.”

Below is what Luck said in accordance with The XFL’s new rule:

“Theoretically we could take a player right out of high school. I doubt we will do that,” Luck said, noting the difference in physical development between an 18-year-old and the 24-to-25-year-old fringe NFLers they plan to build their base from.

“But I wouldn’t rule it out,” Luck said. “Nor would I rule out taking a player who played a year of college football and let’s say isn’t eligible academically, which happens. Or a player who is two years out of college, and is transferring, and would have to sit out a year. A lot of guys don’t want to. . . . We are in that position to be able to take players who wouldn’t be eligible to play in The NFL. . . .

“But that’s an option that we have and we’re going to look at it long and hard. There are a lot off very good college players after a year or two who may not want to play that third year of college football, may need to earn a little money, support the family. That’s not uncommon as well.”

XFL Spokesperson Takes It Further

Also, an XFL Spokesperson dropped this little nugget this week:

On Tuesday, an XFL Spokesperson told PFT that, while “[T]he XFL’s player eligibility guidelines are in development,” The XFL is not restricted by the rules that exist in other professional football leagues.”

Curiosity over young college players’ eligibility came into question after Clemson Quarterback Trevor Lawrence became The First True Freshman Quarterback to lead his team to a national championship in 33 years. Several people appeared to clamour for The NFL to change its draft rules so Lawrence could enter, as seen below:

Trevor Lawrence is the best true freshman QB I’ve ever seen. If I was running an NFL team, I’d be making trades for as many 2021 picks I could get my hands on.— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) January 8, 2019

First True Freshman To Win Title

The 19-Year-Old Stud Quarterback still has two years of eligibility remaining.

However, with the emergence of The XFL, Lawrence could opt to leave The Tigers after The 2019 Season and join The XFL for the start of The 2020 Season. A high-profile quarterback would draw significant interest to the upstart league, which is not only competing against The NFL but trying to bounce back from a disastrous one and done season in 2001.

The Alliance Of American Football, which will start its inaugural season a week after The Super Bowl, will use the same rules as The NFL does in regards to eligibility, Pro Football Talk reported.

Luck has previously said that the league will pay salaries in The $250,000-$300,000 range for top players for what would seemingly be a 5-month commitment. It will be interesting to see if Trevor Lawrence would sign with The XFL for The 2020 Season and would other young college players follow suit and sign with The XFL as well in accordance to the new rule released by the league.

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