Seahawks waive Anthony Hankerson as college eligibility ruling reshapes player movement
A Louisiana court order granting a fifth season of eligibility to 16 players has prompted the Seattle Seahawks to release running back Anthony Hankerson, clearing the path for a potential return to the transfer portal.
The Seattle Seahawks have waived running back Anthony Hankerson, a move that may allow the undrafted rookie to return to collegiate football. The decision follows a recent Louisiana court order that granted eligibility for a fifth season to 16 players who graduated high school in 2022.
Hankerson, who signed with Seattle last week, appeared in the Seahawks’ 19-16 preseason loss to Tennessee on Sunday night. In that match, he rushed for 10 yards on five carries and caught two passes for nine yards. His brief stint in the NFL comes after he signed with the Miami Dolphins in April before being waived earlier this month.
The legal development mirrors the recent trajectory of fellow running back T.J. Harden, who also played for the Seahawks in a preseason game against Dallas. Harden, who played at SMU and went undrafted, was similarly granted a temporary restraining order by the Louisiana judge. After being waived by Seattle, Harden entered the transfer portal last week.
Hankerson’s collegiate background includes a strong second season at Oregon State, where he recorded 1,086 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He also contributed 22 receptions for 123 yards during that campaign. The current eligibility dispute stems from his 2022 high school graduation, which placed him in the cohort affected by the court’s ruling.
Once Hankerson clears waivers, he is expected to enter the transfer portal. This mechanism allows him to seek a new collegiate program, a process that has become increasingly relevant as legal interpretations of eligibility rules impact the pipeline between college and professional football.
The situation highlights the growing intersection of legal rulings and athletic governance. While the court order provides a pathway for players like Hankerson to extend their careers, the specific details of the legal scope remain summarised in public reporting. For now, the waiver represents a strategic adjustment by the Seahawks as they navigate the implications of the ruling.
