This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 59m ago
Big Ten puts the kibosh on NFL-to-college plans
Aug. 26—CHAMPAIGN — The ruckus raised by Lane Kiffin and others doesn't look like it will affect the Illinois football program.
Or anybody else in the Big Ten for that matter.
Kiffin, in his first year at LSU after his controversial exit from Mississippi, is trying to bring a recently-released NFL prospect, tight end Dae'Quan Wright, onto his team for the 2026 season.
When the idea of players waived by NFL teams going back to college first came up, former Illini receiver Hank Beatty and offensive lineman Melvin Priestly were mentioned as possibilities to rejoin Bret Bielema's program at Illinois.
Beatty signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans. Though the team has a deep group of receivers, Beatty is in good position to either stick on the 53-man roster or practice squad.
Detroit Lions free agent offensive lineman Melvin Priestly is listed as a fourth-teamer on the team's depth chart. Again, sticking with the team in some capacity is his priority.
"There's still the thing floating out there about the NFL," Bielema said Tuesday morning at the Smith Center.
"I know there are conversations," the sixth-year Illini coach continued. "What I've done is I've just kind of prepared for the moment, had everything in place if something happens where we can do certain things, and we'll move forward. If not, we'll play with the roster we have right now. We have some guys that are sitting on ready. I was over on my roster as it was."
Where does Bielema stand of college adding players released from the NFL?
"I've seen coaches take off on different stances." Bielema said. "I think once you're a college player, you're a college player. And once you're a pro player, you're a pro player."
The Big Ten agrees.
Later Tuesday, a few hours after Bielema addressed local reporters at the Smith Center, the league announced a rule that prohibits players who signed or played pro football to play at one of its schools.
The SEC soon followed the Big Ten's lead — even going a step further in passing a rule banning players who have been drafted by NFL, NBA or WNBA teams or listed on rosters in those leagues.
The Big Ten is expected to address other sports beyond just football at a later date.
Regardless, Bielema beat the Big Ten to the eligibility punch.
"I get the discussion," he said. "And, of course, if there is a rule that allows some of our pro guys to come back — and we have the ability to do it — that's another conversation. I always want to make Illinois great, but I also understand the integrity everybody's getting caught in the middle of."
One of Bielema's most-repeated phrases came up again: Just tell him what the rules are and he'll abide by them.
"If I can get a guy back that can help us win games, I'd love to do that," Bielema said, "but on the same account, I've got to play by the rules."
Coming together
Bielema made a change — he uses the term transition — on defense this offseason. He moved on from Aaron Henry as his defensive coordinator to former Montana coach Bobby Hauck overseeing the Illini defense.
Simple question: Does he like what he sees?
"I think there are some parts of your defense that are going to be a learning process throughout the whole year," Bielema said. "We go through a million scenarios. We just did some end-of-game scenarios, end-of-half things (on Tuesday). Every day there is a new opportunity and a new call and a new window."
Among the many variants: personnel for the different packages.
"One thing I really enjoyed, Bobby and his staff — the guys he brought with him as well as the guys we retained — have really come together to form a really good defensive unit," Bielema said. "I thought our defensive guys really responded to who they are, what they are. You can see during the scrimmages, during the practices, they're engaged with their coaches. I think they like playing for them, which I think is a huge, huge thing in today's world."
Winding down
Illinois closed out training camp this past Saturday. The players had Sunday off, then returned to workouts on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Illini had a 14-period walkthrough on their grass practice fields.
On Wednesday, the team has scheduled a mock game at 8 p.m., the same time as kickoff for the Sept. 3 opener against UAB at Gies Memorial Stadium.
"We've handed out UAB scouting reports. We've popped into their preparation: offense, defense, special teams," Bielema said. "Really kind of hit the ground running from this point forward."
Bielema likes to have his team practicing the same time as games.
Later in the season, expect to see the Illini again practicing at night since Illinois has a 7 p.m. kickoff against Nebraska on Nov. 6 in Champaign and then at 8 p.m. a week later on Nov. 13 when the Illini play UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Big TenNFLCHAMPAIGNLane KiffinIllinoisKiffinLSUMississippiDae'Quan WrightDaeQuan WrightIllini
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