Jack Pyburn reveals plans if not on NFL roster by Sept. 1, per report
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Jack Pyburn, one of the players at the center of the NCAA’s 5-for-5 rule who is looking to return to the college ranks, will play at LSU if he ends up not on an NFL roster by Sept. 1. That’s according to a report from NoLa.com’s Jon Blau, citing a lawsuit filed in a Louisiana court that lists Greg Sankey as a defendant.
Pyburn started his college career at Florida, where he played for three seasons. His breakout season was 2025, when he made 60 tackles and 4.0 tackles for a loss. He then entered the transfer portal and ended up at LSU, making 52 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 2.0 sacks.
He then signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he has made three tackles during preseason.
Although Pyburn wants to come back to LSU, the SEC’s policy dictates that any athlete who has been on an NFL roster cannot play. But a temporary restraining order out of a Louisiana court appears to supersede that policy. That said, expect the SEC to pursue legal action to make sure its policy remains.
If the conference wins, LSU, as well as other members, could face punishment, the specifics of which aren’t known at this time.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
