The NCAA’s headache over eligibility has only increased since its five-on-five rule. The court injunctions now allow an extra year for players who were on the doorstep of the NFL. Minnesota is adding a new player to its roster just days before the 2026 season starts. A specialist who chased a professional dream is stepping back onto a college field instead.

Former New Mexico kicker Luke Drzewiecki has officially returned to college football. He has joined Minnesota to give the Big Ten program another experienced option at placekicker. The move is unusual because he already pursued an NFL opportunity earlier in 2026. 

CBS Sports journalist Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer first reported the Minnesota addition. This came around August 21, which is usually late in the offseason. 

Drzewiecki was about to leave college earlier this year. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Soon after, he received a tryout invitation from the Baltimore Ravens for their rookie minicamp. The Ravens held this minicamp on May 1 and May 2. His agent, Zach Hoban, confirmed that he never signed an NFL contract, which kept his college return possible.

The return was made possible by new lawsuits against the NCAA’s five-on-five rule. Multiple student-athletes from the 2022 class have successfully obtained injunctions for an extra year of eligibility. They argue that they couldn’t take an advantage of the new rule because they didn’t redshirt in their freshman year.

Drzewiecki received the order on August 19 in a Louisiana state-court lawsuit. That ruling allowed him to officially enter the transfer portal. Things moved fast, as he entered the portal around August 20 and committed to the team around August 21. 

Drzewiecki put together a strong season last year. He made 18 of his 19 field goals and connected on all 36 of his extra points. He scored 90 points and hit a 46-yard long kick. His 94.7% field-goal rate was among the best nationally. 

He became the all-time kick-scoring leader for New Mexico and earned multi-year Mountain West All-Academic honors. Adding to this, he was also a Burlsworth Trophy nominee.

New Mexico played Minnesota on December 26, 2025, losing 20-17 in overtime. Drzewiecki made all three of his field-goal attempts during that close game. Most importantly, new Minnesota special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato coached him at New Mexico last season. Head coach P.J. Fleck hired Da Prato after he impressed during that game. 

The sudden arrival will now push the existing group to adjust right before kickoff.

A closer look at the kicking competition

Minnesota went just 14-for-21 on field goals last year, which is a 66.7% success rate. Brady Denaburg remains a major part of this competition. He made 14 of his 21 field goals and was stronger from inside 40 yards. 

Denaburg went 2-of-5 from beyond 40 yards and 0-of-2 from 50 yards or more. He also provides great kickoff value with an 81% touchback rate. 

The rest of the kicking room features a few different faces. Beckham Sunderland is a Michigan transfer who has been a kickoff specialist. He has limited or no college field-goal attempts and brings a soccer background to the field. 

Da Prato already knows what his former player can do from their time together out west. The special teams unit for the Lobos improved under his watch. The team is now adding a specialist who is already familiar with the coordinator’s system.

The Colorado injunction, the Louisiana order, and related lawsuits have created a temporary eligibility window. It is unusual for players to make roster moves in mid-to-late August. Arriving so close to the season can create roster disruption for players who are already competing for jobs. 

Luke Drzewiecki previously made a limited comment to the Albuquerque Journal, noting he was communicating with his old school to see what the future might look like. Now, a kicker enters a competition that could decide close, one-possession games in the Big Ten.