Texas Tech announced Monday night that Brandan Sorsby will not play college football this fall, despite a Lubbock County judge’s injunction that confirmed his eligibility. The quaterback will now enter the NFL supplemental draft, which hasn’t taken place since 2019.

“Star QB Brendan Sorsby is applying to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, sources tell NFL Network,” NFL insider Tom Pelissro reported via X. “After legal wrangling about his NCAA eligibility, Sorsby — regarded as a first-round talent — now could be the highest-drafted supplemental pick in decades.”

That said, five NFL teams are reportedly showing interest in drafting Sorbsy. As speculated by Sports Illustrated’s Mike Kadlick, the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and the New York Jets should aim to bring Sorsby on board as a viable option to compete with their current QB room for the starting role.

The Cardinals have been struggling to get Jacoby Brissett on board, as the veteran signal-caller isn’t happy with his contract, while drafting former Miami Dolphins QB1 Carson Beck in the third round. Similarly, the Jets have the likes of Geno Smith, Bailey Zappe, and fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik, who aren’t expected to be long-term QB1 solutions.

The Browns also find themselves in a similar situation, as they are expected to pick between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson as the starter, who aren’t very likely to be franchise quarterbacks in Cleveland, while names second-year pro Dilion Gabriel and rookie out of Arkansas State, Taylen Green, will ride the bench.

Now, looking at the Dolphins and Steelers, both teams have starting-calibre quarterbacks in Malik Willis and Aaron Rodgers, but haven’t found long-term solutions, making a case for Brendan Sorsby, who was always touted to be a top quarterback in the league.

Over his time at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech, Sorsby has hauled in 7,208 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns, 1,305 rushing yards, and 22 rushing touchdowns, and established himself as one of the best signal-callers on the college circuit. ESPN ranked Sorsby as the number one player in their NCAA transfer portal rankings, while draft expert Jordan Reid described why many pro teams see the 22-year-old as a ” highly intriguing” prospect.

“He’s a sudden thrower who can operate from all types of body positions and arm slots,” Reid wrote for ESPN. “His whippy throwing motion helps create plenty of velocity. But because of those standout traits, he tries to fit passes into nonexistent lanes. His confidence in his arm can result in avoidable throws that result in head-scratching turnovers.”

With these attributes, Brendan Sorsby could emerge as an incredible candidate to burst onto the scene if he gets selected through the supplemental draft. And the 22-year-old is ready to be back on the field as he released a statement after the report about his decision to enter the supplemental draft broke through.

Brendan Sorsby expresses gratitude after declaring for the supplemental draft

After a rollercoaster of a year, in which he faced legal action from the NCAA for a gambling addiction and nearly lost his college eligibility before receiving a temporary injunction to play this upcoming season, Brendan Sorsby reportedly decided to enter the supplemental draft. But after moving forward with this decision, the 22-year-old released a statement looking back at this journey.

“I am grateful for the support from my family, my Tech coaching staff, teammates, the community, and so many others who have encouraged me to address and learn more about this important issue,” Sorsby wrote, via ESPN Pete Thamel. “As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be both on and off the field.”

Sorsby’s decision to pursue the NFL rather than fight for his college eligibility marks a pivotal moment in his career. Despite the controversy surrounding his gambling violations, his talent is undeniable, and several teams are already circling. If selected in the supplemental draft, the 22-year-old will have a chance to prove he belongs at the next level.