Utah's Devon Dampier among senior QBs welcoming new 5-for-5 rule
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- The NCAA is moving to a five-year, age-based eligibility model starting in 2027, allowing players entering their fourth year without a redshirt to return for a fifth season, impacting senior quarterbacks significantly.
- Utah quarterback Devon Dampier plans to enter the NFL draft after this season but sees the new eligibility rule as a safety net if he chooses to return for an extra year.
- Several other FBS starting quarterbacks, including Kansas State's Avery Johnson and Iowa State's Jaylen Raynor, face decisions about whether to use the additional eligibility year or pursue professional opportunities.
- Coaches like Kansas State's Collin Klein welcome the reform, noting it simplifies eligibility management and eliminates complications from redshirts and eligibility waivers, benefiting both players and programs.
- The new rule provides programs with flexibility and players with more control over their careers, but decisions about utilizing the extra year will generally be made after the current season concludes.
