The NFL informed quarterback on Tuesday that it will not hold a this year, saying it encouraged him to focus on preparing for possible entry into the league through the regular draft next year.
The league told Sorsby of its decision in a letter that was obtained by The Associated Press.
Sorsby had applied for the supplemental draft after a legal battle with the NCAA, which had declared him ineligible for making thousands of bets on sporting events worth at least $90,000 during his college career. Those included at least 40 bets on Indiana while he was a freshman there in 2022, though none on the games in which he played for the Hoosiers that season.
Sorsby will have to wait until next year to be eligible to play in the NFL.
鈥淭he League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry,鈥� NFL attorney Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. said in his letter. 鈥淵our Petition 鈥� filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions 鈥� does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans. The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League鈥檚 core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented.鈥�
The letter also said: 鈥淲e encourage you to focus on preparing for possible entry into the NFL through the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.鈥�
The submission deadline for the rarely used supplemental draft was Monday. The 22-year-old quarterback had planned to work out for NFL teams on July 10.
Sorsby, after transferring earlier this year from Cincinnati to Texas Tech, was banished from competition by the NCAA for the gambling activity.
After spending a month in a for a diagnosed addiction that led to thousands of bets, Sorsby sued the NCAA and gained a court-ordered reinstatement that prompted nationwide backlash toward Texas Tech. The controversy led Sorsby to enter this special draft session that has not been used to select a player since 2019.
鈥淭he sole reasons identified in your Petition for seeking entry into the Supplemental Draft are that you have been 鈥榙eclared ineligible鈥� by the NCAA, have 鈥榚xhausted all of (your) avenues to continue in the NCAA,鈥� and 鈥榳ant to now play in the NFL,鈥欌�� Ferazani wrote. 鈥淭he Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA鈥檚 decision. Public sources, however, indicate that in May 2026 the NCAA issued a determination declaring you permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics, based on a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities.鈥�
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