Former Alabama Crimson Tide starters could make an unexpected return following landmark college football ruling
A huge ruling has changed the game for the class of 2022 recruits in college football, and the Alabama Crimson Tide have a few players who couild venture back to Tuscaloosa if they get cut from their NFL teams.
A federal ruling granting the entire 2022 college football recruiting class a fifth year of eligibility sent shockwaves through the sport this week. The decision carries massive implications for both NFL rosters and college programs, and few programs stand to benefit more than the Alabama Crimson Tide.
A list of former Alabama players who could take advantage of this ruling, and several names stand out. All qualify on the football side.
Class of 2022 Alabama football players eligible to return
- Kam Dewberry
- Jam Miller
- LT Overton
- Germie Bernard
- Domani Jackson
The football names to watch
Focusing on the football players, Dewberry is the most obvious candidate to return, and he even tweeted or posted about it on X. The guard isn’t locked into an NFL roster spot, and a return to Tuscaloosa could make sense for his development. Miller, who signed with the New England Patriots late in the process, falls into a similar category. He could be someone who gets cut and circles back to Alabama. Then there’s Jackson, a sixth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers. He’s another player on the roster bubble where the math could work in college football’s favor.
The ruling doesn’t bar players currently in the NFL from returning. That’s the key detail here. We know how difficult it is to make a 53-man roster.
The practice squad question changes everything
So the question becomes: is there a world where Dewberry, Miller, or Jackson end up on a practice squad at the end of August and decide that going back to college is the better play? Instead of grinding on a practice squad, they could return to the University of Alabama and try to boost their draft stock for 2027.
I think it’s 100% possible. The logic is straightforward. If those NFL teams took a shot on them in the 2026 NFL Draft, why wouldn’t they take another shot in the 2027 NFL Draft? That’s especially true if a team already had a player in training camp, and then that player goes back to school, has a great season, and comes back looking a year wiser and a year more mature.
There’s going to be plenty of controversy and polarization around this judge’s decision. The truth is, there’s a world where Alabama has some returning players that no one saw coming.
