Who Is Jack Pyburn?
Jack Pyburn is a Jacksonville, Florida, native who played college football at both Florida and LSU. The 6-foot-4 edge defender attended The Bolles School before joining the Florida Gators as part of the 2022 recruiting class.
Pyburn spent his first three college seasons at Florida before transferring to LSU for the 2025 season. LSU officially listed him at 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds and described him as an experienced edge rusher who brought significant production to the Tigers’ defense.
After his lone season in Baton Rouge, Pyburn entered the professional ranks. The Buccaneers signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay’s official roster information lists him as an outside linebacker and identifies LSU as his college.
Jack Pyburn College Football Eligibility
Pyburn’s college football eligibility is now the central issue surrounding his name.
He played three seasons at Florida from 2022 through 2024 and then transferred to LSU for 2025. Ordinarily, his college career would have been considered finished after his LSU season.
The legal dispute centers on NCAA eligibility rules and the treatment of players whose college careers were affected by the eligibility system in place during their careers.
Pyburn’s case is particularly notable because his 2023 season at Florida was shortened by injury. LSU’s official biography states that he played in nine games that year before missing the remainder of the season.
The recent Louisiana court order has temporarily changed the situation. Reports indicate that Pyburn is among 16 players who received a temporary restraining order that prevents the NCAA from enforcing the eligibility restrictions against them in the same way while the legal case proceeds.
That means Pyburn has a potential path to another season, but it is important to distinguish eligibility from an actual decision to play.
Is Jack Pyburn Returning to LSU?
As of Aug. 20, 2026, there is no official confirmation that Jack Pyburn is returning to LSU.
The court ruling gives Pyburn an opportunity to pursue college football eligibility, but LSU has not announced that he is rejoining the Tigers.
That distinction is important because Pyburn is currently listed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster.
For Pyburn to return to college football, he would have to navigate his NFL situation as well as the college transfer and eligibility process. Reports on the court order indicate that NFL players covered by the ruling would need to be released from their NFL contracts by Sept. 1 to join a college roster under the temporary order.
Therefore, a possible return to LSU should be viewed as an option rather than a confirmed move.
Why Is Jack Pyburn Suing the NCAA?
Pyburn is part of a legal challenge involving athletes seeking another opportunity to play college football.
The lawsuit argues that the NCAA’s eligibility framework does not fairly account for the circumstances of players who entered college under earlier rules. The plaintiffs contend that they should have access to an additional season under the newer eligibility framework. ESPN reported that the lawsuit alleges the NCAA breached its “covenant of good faith” by not providing these players with the same opportunity.
The case has become particularly significant because some of the athletes involved have already signed professional contracts.
Pyburn is therefore in an unusual position: he can potentially continue pursuing an NFL career with Tampa Bay while also having a court-created opportunity to explore a return to college football.
What Happened to Pyburn’s 2023 Season?
One of the most important parts of Pyburn’s eligibility story is his 2023 injury.
Pyburn played in the first nine games of Florida’s 2023 season before an injury ended his campaign. He recorded four tackles against both Georgia and Arkansas and registered his first career tackle for loss against South Carolina.
The shortened season is relevant to his legal argument because eligibility calculations can become complicated when injuries, redshirts, waivers and changing NCAA rules overlap.
His case is part of a broader dispute over how eligibility should be applied to players who were affected by rules that have since changed.
Jack Pyburn LSU Stats
Pyburn spent only one season at LSU, but it was the most productive statistical season of his college career.
In 12 games with 11 starts for the Tigers in 2025, he recorded:
- 52 tackles
- 5.5 tackles for loss
- 2 sacks
- 8 quarterback hurries
- 1 fumble recovery
LSU credited him with at least half a tackle for loss in nine games. His best statistical game was seven tackles against Texas A&M. He also recorded six tackles and half a sack against South Carolina.
His LSU production helped establish him as a reliable defensive contributor and led to an invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl.
Jack Pyburn College Career Stats
Pyburn’s complete college career included four seasons across Florida and LSU.
According to LSU’s official statistics, he finished his college career with:
| Category | Career total |
|---|---|
| Games | 41 |
| Starts | 20 |
| Tackles | 132 |
| Tackles for loss | 10.5 |
| Sacks | 3.0 |
His 2024 season at Florida was another major step forward. He recorded 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and an interception in 12 regular-season games. He also started the final eight games of the season.
Jack Pyburn 2024 Florida Stats
Before transferring to LSU, Pyburn enjoyed a breakout junior season at Florida.
He finished 2024 with:
- 60 tackles
- 4.0 tackles for loss
- 1 sack
- 1 interception
He also produced a career-best eight tackles against Kentucky and LSU. In Florida’s season finale against Florida State, Pyburn recorded four tackles and a sack for a 12-yard loss.
That performance helped make him an attractive transfer-portal target for LSU.
Jack Pyburn at LSU
LSU signed Pyburn from Florida ahead of the 2025 season after he entered the transfer portal.
The Tigers viewed him as an experienced defensive addition. LSU announced his signing in December 2024, noting that he had appeared in 29 games for Florida and had produced 60 tackles during his breakout 2024 campaign.
At LSU, Pyburn immediately became part of the defensive rotation and eventually started 11 of the 12 games in which he appeared.
His 2025 numbers represented career highs in both sacks and tackles for loss.
Jack Pyburn and the Buccaneers
Pyburn’s eligibility case is especially unusual because he is already an NFL player.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2026. The team identified him as one of its rookie additions after the draft and listed him as an outside linebacker.
NFL.com currently lists Pyburn as a Buccaneers linebacker, No. 58, with LSU as his college.
That creates a major decision for the young defender. Returning to college would mean stepping away from the NFL opportunity he worked toward after his LSU season.
Could Jack Pyburn Really Play College Football Again?
Potentially, yes—but the situation remains fluid.
The temporary restraining order gives Pyburn a legal route to seek another season. It does not automatically place him back on an LSU roster or guarantee that he will play in a college game.
There are still several questions surrounding his potential return:
- Will Pyburn leave the Buccaneers?
- Will Tampa Bay release him from his contract?
- Will he enter the transfer portal?
- Will LSU want to bring him back?
- Will another school pursue him?
- What happens if the NCAA challenges or overturns the temporary ruling?
Reports indicate that the NCAA has a deadline to challenge the ruling, adding another layer of uncertainty to the situation.
Could Pyburn Transfer Instead of Returning to LSU?
Yes. The court order could potentially give Pyburn access to the transfer portal rather than limiting him to LSU.
That is significant because Pyburn’s eligibility opportunity could attract interest from multiple programs. He is an experienced SEC defender with 41 career college games, 132 tackles and three sacks.
However, LSU remains an obvious storyline because Baton Rouge was his most recent college destination.
At this point, there is no confirmed report that Pyburn has committed to LSU or another college.
What Makes the Case So Significant?
Pyburn’s situation illustrates how quickly college football eligibility rules are changing.
For decades, the college-to-NFL pathway was largely one-directional. Players completed their college eligibility, entered the draft or signed as free agents, and moved into professional football.
The current legal environment is creating unusual possibilities.
An NFL rookie could potentially return to college, compete for an additional season and potentially benefit from the modern NIL environment. That is exactly why the Pyburn case has attracted national attention.
It also creates difficult questions for college programs and professional teams. A player who has already signed an NFL contract could suddenly become eligible for another college season, forcing both sides to reconsider roster planning.
Jack Pyburn Stats: Quick Overview
Pyburn’s numbers explain why his potential return would be noteworthy.
At Florida, he developed into a productive defender and posted 60 tackles in 2024. At LSU, he followed that performance with 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2025.
Across his college career, he accumulated 132 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
His production was not built around huge sack totals. Instead, Pyburn’s value came from his ability to contribute against the run, pressure quarterbacks and play a large number of defensive snaps.
PFF’s 2025 evaluation also highlighted his run defense, giving him an 85.3 run-defense grade and recording 34 total pressures.
Final Verdict on Jack Pyburn’s Eligibility
Jack Pyburn’s college football eligibility is now a major storyline because a Louisiana court has temporarily opened the door for him to pursue another season.
The former LSU defender is not confirmed to be returning to LSU, however. He remains a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player, and a potential college comeback would require additional decisions involving his NFL contract, the transfer portal and the continuing NCAA legal battle.
What is clear is that Pyburn has become one of the most prominent examples of the changing relationship between college and professional football.
His statistics show that he was a productive SEC defender, while his legal case could determine whether he gets one more opportunity to play college football.
For now, the biggest answer is simple: Jack Pyburn has a potential path back to college football, but his return to LSU is not yet official.
FAQs
Is Jack Pyburn eligible to play college football again?
A Louisiana court’s temporary restraining order has opened a path for Pyburn and other players to pursue another season of college eligibility. The situation remains subject to further legal developments.
Is Jack Pyburn returning to LSU?
There is currently no official confirmation that Pyburn is returning to LSU. The court ruling gives him an opportunity to pursue college football but does not automatically place him back on the Tigers’ roster.
Why is Jack Pyburn suing the NCAA?
Pyburn is among players challenging NCAA eligibility restrictions and seeking the opportunity to receive another season under the newer eligibility framework.
What were Jack Pyburn’s LSU stats?
In 2025, Pyburn played 12 games with 11 starts and recorded 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and eight quarterback hurries.
What are Jack Pyburn’s career college stats?
Pyburn finished his college career with 132 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 41 games, according to LSU’s official statistics.
What happened to Jack Pyburn’s 2023 season?
Pyburn played nine games for Florida in 2023 before an injury ended his season.
What NFL team has Jack Pyburn?
Pyburn signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2026 and is listed on the team’s roster.
Could Jack Pyburn play for another college instead of LSU?
Potentially. If he uses the eligibility opportunity created by the court order, the transfer process could allow him to explore options beyond LSU. No new college destination has been officially confirmed.
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