Sports
Clemson Freshman’s Wait To Get Into NFL Draft May Cost Him Millions
- Trevor Lawrence is prevented from going pro for two more years
- Looming bargaining agreement may further reduce potential pay
Trevor Lawrence of the Clemson Tigers attempts a pass on Jan. 7, in Santa Clara, Calif.
Photographer: Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesTrevor Lawrence lit up college football on Monday, throwing for 347 yards and three scores in Clemson University’s national-title blowout over favored Alabama. His performance drew heavy praise from scouts, who see the freshman quarterback as a future NFL star.
That future won’t come soon, however. The National Football League’s eligibility rules prevent Lawrence from joining for another two years, a policy that could cost the 19-year-old at least 11 percent of his career earnings under the league’s current pay structure, according to John Vrooman, a sports economist at Vanderbilt University.