As SEC programs challenge conference norms by targeting professional talent, the Gators coach reveals his strategy for navigating legal loopholes and roster uncertainty to gain a competitive edge.
The SEC would rather its league teams don't jump on the bandwagon of bringing in class of 2022 players that went to the NFL but are eligible to return to college football this year.
Some of the SEC's programs are willing to buck against the conference's wishes.
LSU is set to sign two players that played for Ole Miss last season and went to the NFL in the offseason.
During his news conference on Monday, Florida head coach Jon Sumrall said he was in communication with "some people" about bringing in athletes who had participated at training camp in the NFL this year. He wants to do what is best for Florida, but didn't find an opportunity that made sense at this time.
"We have our football team here, and I'm always open to adding if we can add, but the timing of who you add, how you add them, add a guy from the NFL training camp but he's waiting to figure out does he get cut or does he not get cut," Sumrall said, via USA Today.
"We're looking at all of it, we're following all of it, we've had conversations with some people, but there's been nothing that's felt like it could fit or make sense for us."
Sumrall noted that he brought quarterback Jake Retzlaff on July 27 to help Tulane after Darian Mensah transferred to Duke. Still, Sumrall wants better rules in place so courts aren't deciding things on a daily basis.
"I'm for the five-for-five; we're getting moving forward," Sumrall said. "My understanding when all of that was being done was that was for moving forward after this year, really, right?
"What I really struggle with is the rules are changing so daily based upon a court ruling, or what happens in a court in Colorado, or a court here, a court in Louisiana, and it's like, we need to have some continuity and some consistency across the board."
Pretty much every coach in college football feels that way. There need to be clear rules for everyone to follow. But it's hard to blame coaches for taking advantage of the rulings this summer.
Sumrall, like Lane Kiffin, will be judged based on wins and losses regardless of his feelings of bringing in NFL players.
