Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby to enter NFL's supplemental draft

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering the NFL's supplemental draft, the school announced on Monday, ending a growing legal drama surrounding his college eligibility.

Sorsby had until June 22 to decide whether to apply for the supplemental draft, which the league opens for players who miss the filing deadline for the standard draft or have college eligibility issues crop up.

Texas Tech board chairman Cody Campbell said in a statement on Monday, in part, "This decision was made with Brendan and his family and is purely an output of practical analysis of the situation. Brendan and Texas Tech stand on very solid and legitimate legal ground, but he faces a June 22nd deadline to be eligible to enter the NFL's supplemental draft, and there is no practical way to resolve all the various pending legal disputes and ensure his eligibility prior to this date.

"This is the only viable and fair path for Brendan and his future, as well as for his teammates, and our university."

The supplemental draft appeared to be a likely option for Sorsby earlier this month -- until a judge in Lubbock County, Texas, granted him a temporary injunction against the NCAA regarding the governing body's decision to rescind his eligibility over sports betting violations.

Texas Tech stood by Sorsby as he fought to regain his college eligibility, but in doing so the university angered its peers. The Big 12 Conference filed a complaint against Texas Tech and the Texas attorney general earlier Monday as it sought a ruling allowing it to enforce its own bylaws. The Big 12 asked the court to clarify that it has the authority to establish and administer its own eligibility rules.

Separately, the NCAA filed a formal appeal in Lubbock County District Court with a request for expedited resolution in Sorsby's case, aiming to settle it before the 2026 college football season began. Sorsby's trial date had been set for February 2027.

Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, told ESPN on Monday of Sorsby's lawsuit against the NCAA regarding the quarterback's eligibility, "It is now moot, so we will withdraw it."

The 15 Big 12 athletic directors, excluding Texas Tech, met last week and unanimously expressed their opposition to Sorsby playing for the Red Raiders. Big 12 university presidents were scheduled to meet Monday to discuss potential sanctions.

Sorsby was the source of an offseason firestorm after his legal team admitted the quarterback placed at least 40 bets on the Indiana football team while a member of the program in 2022 and 2023. In all, he wagered about $90,000 on college and professional sports over a four-year period. He entered an addiction treatment program on April 27.

Texas Tech was prepared to have Sorsby play the entire regular season and any playoff games after he served a two-game suspension at the start of the campaign.

The NFL's supplemental draft has not been conducted since 2023, as it's only held when a prospect chooses to enter. No player has been chosen as a supplemental draft pick since 2019.

The supplemental draft is likely to be conducted in late July, with a precise date not set.

The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns are among the QB-needy teams that may consider Sorsby, though first-year Browns coach Todd Monken said this month that considering Sorsby was "a slippery slope" due to his history of gambling on sports.

Sorsby threw for 5,613 yards, 45 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over the past two seasons at Cincinnati. He also ran for 1,027 yards and 18 touchdowns in 24 games.

--Field Level Media