Which All-MAC players can return to college after court ruling?

As fall camp commences at the collegiate level, and training camp begins in the NFL, a court ruling was made which could seismically shift some rosters.

On Friday, July 31, Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado granted a preliminary injunction requiring the NCAA to grant a fifth year of eligibility to college athletes who graduated high school in 2022 and exhausted their eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year. However, there will be pushback on this Wisne v. NCAA ruling in Colorado. The NCAA plans to appeal, and NCAA Chief Legal Officer Scott Bearby penned a memo in which he called the decision "egregiously wrong."

In the meantime, athletes affected by this ruling are exploring options to return to college. Per On3 Sports reporter Pete Nakos, several former college football players including Pittsburgh running back Desmond Reid, Indiana wide receiver Jonathan Brady, Kentucky inside linebacker Alex Afari Jr., James Madison inside linebacker Trent Hendrick, and Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding have considered opting into a fifth-year of eligibility, if the ruling is upheld.

If the NCAA's appeal is denied and class of 2022 high school graduates are eligible to return to college, which MAC stars are affected?

Below is a list of 2025 all-MAC selections affected by the ruling– although over half are currently on NFL rosters. Participating in training camp would not bar a player from returning to college per the court ruling. Additionally, the ruling states the NCAA cannot bar players from entering the transfer portal, so in a world where Sweeney's ruling stands, there is no guarantee these players return to their MAC programs.

Currently on NFL roster - ineligible

Update (8/2/2026 at 9:35 p.m. ET): On Sunday, August 2, a clarification was made to the ruling, confirming that players who signed NFL contracts or are currently on NFL rosters would not be eligible to return to college.

Nathan Voorhis, DE, Ball State

Voorhis was a breakout star at Ball State in 2025 after spending two seasons at UConn and one at Bryant in the FCS. The star pass rusher tied for fifth in the FBS with 12.0 sacks and also ranked top-10 nationally with 17.0 tackles for loss. Voorhis was undrafted but immediately signed as a priority free agent by the New York Jets. His deal is $3,105,000 over three years, including $70,000 guaranteed.

Red Murdock, ILB, Buffalo

Murdock's is the FBS all-time leader in career forced fumbles with 17, wreaking havoc as a two-time first-team All-MAC selection and 2025 second-team AP All-American honoree. Murdock ranked second nationally in tackles in 2024 and third in 2025, generating 298 tackles and 30 tackles for loss over those two seasons. He was selected as the 257th and final selection of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, giving him the title of "Mr. Irrelevant".

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, FS, Toledo

McNeil-Warren was selected 58th overall by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted MAC player in 2026. He earned third-team AP All-American honors this past fall after posting 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions on a lockdown Toledo defense. Given his placement in the draft, he is virtually a lock to make the Browns roster and will not be returning to college football.

Avery Smith, CB, Toledo

Smith qualified for second-team all-MAC honors in both 2024 and 2025, serving as one of several stars in a loaded Toledo defensive backfield. He totaled 100 tackles and broke up 25 passes in those two seasons, ranking second in the FBS in 2024 in pass breakups. Smith was signed as an undrafted free agent to the Los Angeles Chargers, where he signed a three-year, $3,120,000 deal with $267,500 guaranteed.

Not on NFL roster - eligible

Junior Vandeross III, WR, Toledo

Vandeross was a back-to-back first-time all-MAC selection at Toledo and spent all four of his college years as a Rocket. He ranks fifth in program history in receptions and eighth in receiving yards, most notably carrying Toledo to a 48-46 six-overtime victory over Pittsburgh in the 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl behind 12 receptions for 194 yards. Vandeross participated in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers minicamp in May but has since dealt with an assault charge this offseason.

Jordan Kwiatkowski, ILB, Central Michigan

Kwiatkowski spent all four years at Central Michigan, stepping into a starting linebacker role as a junior in 2024. He logged 96 tackles as a junior and 117 as a senior, finishing top-25 in the country in the latter year. Kwiatkowski's loaded 2025 résumé also included 14.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He participated in New England Patriots minicamp and was briefly signed to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, but remains available for fall 2026.

Keegan Andrews, P, UMass

Andrews was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary 0-12 season at UMass. The punter ranked first in the FBS with 3,211 yards, excelling with a 46.5 average. It was his first season as a starting punter after serving as a reserve at Texas A&M in 2024. The Australian native attended minicamp with the New York Jets and was later selected 13th overall in the CFL global draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, although he is no longer listed on the roster.