Purdue Coach Barry Odom Takes Hard Stance Against NFL Players Returning to College

Referring to Barry Odom as an "old-school" coach feels like a fitting descriptor. He's a hard-nosed leader who believes in playing a physical brand of football. He's also a guy who believes that college football should be played by college-aged student-athletes.

A crazy concept, isn't it? While that used to be a standard rule across college athletics, another favorable court ruling could result in NFL players returning to play at the NCAA level.

Former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, allowing him to enter the transfer portal as part of the new five-for-five eligibility rule. Although he was signed as an undrafted free agent and had two stops in the NFL since the end of the 2025 season, he's reached an agreement to play for Lane Kiffin's LSU team if he clears waivers, per ESPN.

LSU may not be on Purdue's 2026 schedule, but that doesn't matter to Odom. He's not a fan of the ruling and allowing NFL players to return.

"I look at the value of the game of college football, and I want to protect that," Odom said at Purdue's fall camp practice on Monday in a video posted by GoldandBlack.com. "At some point it ends for everybody. You know what I mean? Now, we're searching NFL rosters for guys that may or may not make a team, and then we're going to allow them back to play the game? It's mind-boggling to me."

Wright was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent and was later signed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. A player who spent an entire offseason training in the NFL could now be playing college football again.

Like many outside of Louisiana, Odom doesn't believe that's the best situation for the sport.

Don't expect for Purdue to dip into NFL market

Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The greatest concern Odom has about NFL athletes returning to college football is the opportunities it takes away from current players on the roster, or potentially players in future recruiting classes.

Maybe it's an "old-school" way of thinking, but Odom doesn't believe in taking away opportunities for student-athletes who have poured their blood, sweat and tears into a program for the past nine months.

"Would I take Mani Powell back? That would be kinda fun," Odom said jokingly. "But who am I going to walk into the locker room and say, 'Hey, all the work that you've put in from January to today, I appreciate it, but this guy who just played [in the NFL] this last week, we're going to bring him in. He's going to take your locker, your scholarship, and your game time.'"

This could just be a one-year thing in college athletics. The NCAA adopted its five-for-five rule at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year. Members of the 2022 recruiting class believe they missed out on an opportunity to get the additional year of eligibility.

So, maybe this won't be an issue moving forward. Regardless, Odom doesn't have any plans to bring any former NFL players back to West Lafayette.

"I want to protect college football. It's been around a long time," Odom said. "We're doing a lot of great things. I don't know that this is the best for the sport of college football and the opportunities that are created for young people that are of college age.

"I think as a leader, you're supposed to do what's right."

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