Here's How Jim Harbaugh Wants to Change College Football and Make it Better for Student-Athletes
By Tyler Kemp
In this current hiatus in which college football recruiting and spring practices have been postponed, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has taken it upon himself to draw up a proposal to help change the climate surrounding student-athletes and actually give them more power.
Among his suggestions, Harbaugh mentions how he's in support of the “One Time Transfer” rule that would allow the student-athlete to transfer to another school without having to sit out for a year. Additionally, Harbaugh wrote about his own personal experience as a student-athlete and how he was able to support his family.
Jim Harbaugh wants to overhaul the rules of college eligibility of when is the right time to turn pro and enter the draft, as this letter shows. Baseball and hockey already have changed, and basketball is about to change, and Harbaugh wants to empower the student-athlete. pic.twitter.com/lQLb10H8SR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 7, 2020
His three suggestions include:
- Allowing freshmen and sophomores to enter the NFL Draft but give them the option to return to college if they're not selected within the first 224 picks OR if they opt to sign as an undrafted free agent.
- Student-athletes who leave college early can still obtain their degree while playing in the NFL OR after their careers end on the university's dime -- with some exceptions depending on how long they attended before entering the NFL.
- Student-athletes should have better and more expansive access to consultation that will help them make a more informed decision about signing a professional contract whenever they're thinking about doing so.
#Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is pushing for a change that would allow football players to enter the NFL draft after their freshman or sophomore seasons in college. Harbaugh shared that idea among others in an open letter to the football community today.
— Larry Lage (@LarryLage) May 7, 2020
Harbaugh’s open letter to the college football community should be taken into serious consideration, especially with all of the issues the NCAA has experienced in recent years. Football is among the more complicated sports, too, so perhaps Mark Emmert will be open-minded in reading this.