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It’s probably a good thing the Colts have no players looking to return to college because general manager Chris Ballard would have laughed them out of the room.
Ballard offered a blunt criticism of the controversy overtaking college football in which players who suited up for NFL teams during training camp are attempting to head back for a fifth college season.
“That’s the stupidest s–t I’ve ever heard,” Ballard said with a laugh Tuesday when asked if any Colts rookie had broached him on the topic. “Your entire life — I know I’ll catch crap for this — your entire life you fight to get up to the NFL. But now we’re gonna go back? OK, that makes a lot of freaking sense.”
College football and basketball fans seemingly now need law degrees to understand which players are eligible for the upcoming season.
For the first time, players who signed with practice squads are looking to return to college due to court rulings that have opened the gate for a fifth season.
With NIL now allowing for players to be paid, it may be more lucrative for certain individuals to return to college than be on a practice squad.
Tight end Dae’Quan Wright — who played for the Browns in camp — and Zxavian Harris — a member of the Saints — are attempting to play for former coach Lane Kiffin at LSU.
Others could follow suit at different programs.
The Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and SEC have to varying degrees tried to install rules to create clarity regarding the ever-evolving situation, and it could prove to be dictated by the latest court ruling.
Kiffin defended the tactic despite public backlash.
“At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play somewhere else around the country,” Kiffin said recently.
“We made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are.”
Ballard isn’t the only high-profile name in the football community to speak out against players returning to programs, with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney also doing so.
The one advantage Ballard has is that he doesn’t have to worry about those players burning his team, while Sarkisian and Swinney both have dates with LSU this season.
Ballard is instead focused on returning the Colts to the playoffs for the first time since 2026, and it’s possible he’s on the hot seat due to this extended drought.
Indianapolis hopes Daniel Jones fares well in his return from injury, although receiver Keenan Allen was recently arrested on OWI charges and fellow wideout Alec Pierce is working his way back from injury.
The Colts went 8-9 last year after starting 8-2, with the team struggling before falling into a complete tailspin once Daniel Jones was lost to a torn Achilles in Week 14.
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