LOS ANGELES — UCLA senior linebacker Trent Hendrick has been declared officially eligible for the Bruins’ season opener against Cal, a UCLA Athletics spokesperson told the Southern California News Group.
Read more Michigan AG releases Flint water crisis report, says final accountability step her office can take
Hendrick’s eligibility comes after the Big Ten Conference installed rules to curb the back-and-forth moments of players jumping between maintaining college eligibility and attempting to join the NFL.
The new rules state that players are eligible if they never declared for the NFL draft. A player is ineligible if an underclassman declares for the draft but doesn’t rescind their move within 72 hours, signs a pro services agreement with the NFL, or appears in a preseason game or roster.
Hendrick became the first player in history to attend an NFL minicamp, which he did with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, before returning to college, opting to join UCLA and reunite with former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney. Minicamps require players to sign injury waivers and are considered Big Ten Conference tryouts, and athletes aren’t paid or considered under contract.
UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond confirmed Hendrick’s eligibility in a statement.
“We support the Big Ten’s adoption of the new professional football players rule and understand the importance of having clear and consistent eligibility standards across the conference,” Jarmond said.
“We have been in communication with the Big Ten throughout this process, and our student-athletes are eligible under the guidelines adopted today.”
Read more Father of Navy sailor aboard USS Lincoln released from immigration custody
Hendrick was originally granted eligibility because of a temporary restraining order against the NCAA in Louisiana after the governing body of college sports passed its five-for-five eligibility rule.
He never made a team from either of those minicamps and was never shown on a preseason roster, nor did he play in a preseason game and or sign a pro services agreement.
Hendrick fits under all four rule umbrellas, and UCLA now gets a massive piece at linebacker.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Virginia native was voted the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season after recording 106 tackles and three sacks and forcing two fumbles.
The Bruins open the season against their former Pac-12 rivals, the Golden Bears, on Sept. 5 at Berkeley.
Read more Metrolink adds late-night trains for Daisy Chain music festival in Irvine