Fresh off a preseason stint in Seattle, undrafted rookie T.J. Harden targets a bold return to the college ranks following a landmark legal victory against NCAA eligibility rules.
T.J. Harden was fighting for a spot in the Seattle Seahawks' running back room less than a week ago.
Now he could be headed back to college.
And no ... not as some sort of coach, advisor or any other supporting role.
Just days after the Seahawks waived Harden, the former SMU running back plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal following a court ruling that opened the door for him to pursue another season of college football, On3 reported.
It's a pretty remarkable turn for a player Seattle signed just over two weeks ago.
The Seahawks added Harden on Aug. 5 after the Cleveland Browns waived him two days earlier, giving the undrafted rookie another opportunity to stick in the NFL.
He wasn't in Seattle long enough to make much of an impression.
But he did get on the field.
Harden appeared in the Seattle Seahawks' 17-7 preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys, carrying the ball twice for one yard and recovering a fumble.
By Monday, he was gone.
Seattle waived Harden on Aug. 17 while continuing to sort through its running back room.
At that point, there wasn't much reason to think Harden's next move would have anything to do with college football.
He had already spent four seasons there.
Harden played three seasons at UCLA before transferring to SMU for the 2025 season, where he rushed for a team-high 787 yards and nine touchdowns.
Then came the NFL.
Harden went undrafted in April, signed with Cleveland and received another opportunity from the Seahawks after being waived.
Now his path has taken another turn.
Harden was among a group of 16 players who sought a temporary restraining order against the NCAA as part of a challenge to the organization's eligibility rules, CBS Sports reported.
A Louisiana judge granted the group a temporary restraining order Wednesday as the players seek an additional year of college eligibility.
The order isn't a final ruling in the case, and Harden's plan to enter the portal doesn't guarantee he'll actually play another college season.
But that's now an option worth exploring.
Which makes the timeline pretty difficult to ignore:
Aug. 3: Waived by Cleveland.
Aug. 5: Signed by Seattle.
Aug. 15: Played against Dallas.
Aug. 17: Waived by Seattle.
Aug. 19: Granted temporary relief in his pursuit of another college season and announced plans to enter the transfer portal.
Welcome back to college, T.J.
Harden spent most of August trying to prove he belonged on an NFL roster.
Before the month is even over ... he could be looking for his next college team.
