The Big Ten Conference voted on Tuesday to approve a new rule prohibiting football players who signed a professional contract, were on a professional roster, or declared for the NFL Draft as underclassmen without withdrawing from eligibility for athletic competition. UCLA transfer Trent Hendrick, a 2025 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, was cleared to participate in team practices on Monday and Tuesday after the rule’s passage.
Hendrick, a linebacker, went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and participated in rookie minicamps with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs but never signed a contract or earned a roster spot. He subsequently transferred to UCLA and is now eligible to compete in the Big Ten under the conference’s newly adopted guidelines.
UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond issued a statement on Tuesday affirming the school’s support for the rule. “We support the Big Ten’s adoption of the new professional football players rule and understand the importance of having clear and consistent eligibility standards across the conference,” Jarmond said. “We have been in communication with the Big Ten throughout this process, and our student-athletes are eligible under the guidelines adopted today.”
The rule applies to players who fall under three specific scenarios: signing a professional contract, being on a professional roster, or declaring for the NFL Draft as an underclassman without withdrawing. Hendrick, who declared for the 2026 NFL Draft as a senior with no remaining NCAA eligibility, does not meet any of these criteria. His eligibility was further protected by a Louisiana temporary restraining order granted last week, which allowed him to return to college football after entering the draft pool.
The Big Ten is the first major college football conference to implement this restriction. Other conferences have not yet adopted similar rules, leaving their eligibility standards unchanged. UCLA confirmed that all current student-athletes remain eligible for the 2025 season under the new guidelines.
Hendrick’s participation in rookie minicamps did not trigger ineligibility under the Big Ten’s rule, as he was never signed to a professional team. His case highlights the nuanced application of the new policy, which distinguishes between declared draft intent and actual professional participation. The rule’s implementation follows broader discussions within college athletics about maintaining competitive balance and eligibility fairness amid evolving NFL draft dynamics.