On Monday, the Seattle Seahawks waived running back T.J. Harden. Following this, on Wednesday, Harden announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal after a court ruling granted an extra season of eligibility to certain college players, according to On3.

Harden’s college career spanned three seasons at UCLA before he transferred to SMU for his senior year. Over his career, he accumulated:

• 495 carries
• 2,445 rushing yards
• 21 touchdowns

After declaring for the NFL Draft this year, Harden went undrafted and subsequently signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. He remained on their roster through most of the offseason but was waived on August 3. Just three days later, he signed with the Seahawks and played in their first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, where he recorded two carries for 1 yard and recovered a fumble. However, he was waived by the Seahawks two days later.

Harden was among a group of 16 players who sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the NCAA to gain an additional year of eligibility. They argued that recent NCAA rule changes, allowing players five years to play within a five-year span, should also apply to those who had already exhausted their four years of eligibility.

A previous ruling provided preliminary relief to Division I athletes who began college in 2022-23. The recent Louisiana order extends immediate relief to Harden and others who signed NFL contracts or participated in NFL training camps. While the TRO does not constitute a final ruling, it allows players to pursue new opportunities as the case progresses.

This situation echoes past challenges, such as that of former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett, who attempted to enter the NFL Draft after just one college season. Clarett's case was initially successful but was later overturned, illustrating the evolving landscape of player eligibility and opportunities in college sports.