College football fans reacted to major news for their school’s players ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. On Wednesday, the league altered one of their policies on a major part of the pre-draft process.
Per Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, underclassmen can now play in college all-star games.
“Upon the NFL publicly announcing that a player has been granted special eligibility, the East-West Shrine Bowl, HBCU Legacy Bowl, and Senior Bowl may invite such players to participate in their respective game activities. Only these three games are permitted to invite underclassmen to participate.”
Big change to the NFL Draft process: The league informed clubs today that underclassmen will now be eligible for college all-star games, per sources. pic.twitter.com/cF4pbbgHZ3
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 8, 2023
Call it the Caleb Williams rule. Many pundits had predicted last year the league could institute an anti-tanking amendment before the 2023 season because of the hype around Williams, who many analysts suggested is a generational talent.
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But Williams’ play this season, compared to other top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, hasn’t been as lopsided as expected. Some 2024 draft boards don’t feature Williams as the first-overall pick in next year’s draft. Other analysts think Drake Maye could overtake Williams by the spring.
The NFL appears to be helping out NFL owners by allowing them to see Williams’ talents in an All-Star game against future NFL talent. He’d face a more challenging test that week than what he sees weekly in the Pac 12. This is a gift to owners who might have overpaid a hefty premium to trade up for Williams when Maye could be close or better to Williams.
Williams is a junior and would have been ineligible to play in those All-Star games before this policy change, as the league only allowed seniors to participate in years prior.
College football fans react to the 2024 NFL Draft policy change
Some fans were appreciative of allowing underclassmen to participate. Other fans think this rule isn’t fair to seniors, as the All-Star games had allowed under-the-radar talent to showcase their abilities against top-level competition. Players coming into the draft as underclassmen are typically locks to be drafted.
Here are the best takes of fans reacting to the NFL rule change for underclassmen.
So what are they going to call the Senior Bowl, the [Sponser’s Name] Prospect Bowl?
— J Roze (@DetroitRoze) November 8, 2023
Bending the rules for Caleb 💀
— Zeze (@Zezex0_0) November 8, 2023
Im not sure i like this tbh. It will take away some opportunity for underrated gems that are draft eligible to make a name for themselves
— G.W.J the Conqueror (@5mintillZeitnot) November 8, 2023
You already know Caleb Williams and his family complained about this, unless they just happen to use his pic. All to fitting they make the change right when he comes out and he has whined and complained about every part of the proccess.
— wind underneath my freaking wings, man (@IvanInIdaho) November 8, 2023
I feel like this takes away meaningful opportunities from seniors though.@JimNagy_SB @EricGalko will rosters be expanded to make sure small-school overlooked seniors still get a spotlight?
— Kevin ❌ (@KevinMcCune) November 8, 2023
All of this for Caleb Williams, eh?😂
— NKY Bracket Guy (@BracketNky) November 8, 2023
smh, JRob could have actually been a good GM if this had come a few years earlier @StoneyKeeley @FWordsPod @jlomas72
— Daniel F (@iamthemightyoak) November 8, 2023
Showing a pic of C Williams is clowning…The top underclassmen still won’t play in them….but it does provide opportunities for the underclassmen to join the rest of mid to late rd players to impress going into combine…
— Deftbriar (@deftbriar) November 8, 2023
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