Brendan Sorsby has officially pulled the plug on his college career, and now the NFL has a decision to make. The former Texas Tech quarterback filed for the NFL Supplemental Draft on June 22, effectively ending his fight to stay eligible for the 2026 college season. But the most interesting part of this story isn’t that he’s leaving — it’s how the league might handle his baggage.
The Legal Maneuver That Ended His College Eligibility
Sorsby had been locked in a legal battle in Lubbock County, Texas, fighting to preserve his remaining college eligibility. On Tuesday, he agreed to dismiss that lawsuit, a move that simultaneously made him ineligible for NCAA football and eligible for the supplemental draft. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the timing was no accident.
“Based on Monday’s legal developments in the Brendan Sorsby case, it became clear that he was facing a decision. A calculated risk,” Florio wrote. “Do I continue to cling to my effort to play college football in 2026, knowing that I still may lose my eligibility at a time when it’s too late to jump to the NFL?”
Will the NFL Punish Him Like It Did Terrelle Pryor?
The league hasn’t yet confirmed whether Sorsby will be cleared to enter the draft pool. But Florio believes the real question is whether Commissioner Roger Goodell will impose a suspension, similar to the one handed down to Terrelle Pryor in 2011.
Pryor left Ohio State while facing a five-game NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits and selling memorabilia. Goodell upheld that penalty, writing at the time that allowing players to dodge NCAA discipline by jumping to the NFL “reflects poorly not on college football … but on the NFL, by making it into a sanctuary where a player cannot only avoid the consequences of his conduct, but be paid for doing so.”
“The first step, will the NFL let him in? They should,” Florio said. “Will the NFL try to punish him like they punished Terrell Pryor in 2011? They shouldn’t.”
Sorsby’s situation differs from Pryor’s. His eligibility issues stem from a gambling addiction, not the sale of memorabilia. The NCAA had not yet ruled on his case, meaning there is no pre-existing suspension for the NFL to enforce.
The Gambling Elephant in the Room
Even if the NFL clears him to enter the supplemental draft, teams must weigh the risk of drafting a quarterback recovering from a gambling addiction. Relapse is a real concern, and the league has been aggressive in punishing players for betting violations in recent years.
One franchise has already made its stance clear. Florio reported that the Cleveland Browns appear to be out on drafting Sorsby. But 31 other teams remain potential suitors, and quarterback-needy clubs are always looking for a bargain.
A supplemental draft date has not been set. For now, Sorsby waits — and so does the NFL, as it decides whether to treat him as a cautionary tale or a second-chance story.
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