Former Colorado running back Anthony Hankerson is on the move again, and this time the next stop could be college football.
The Seattle Seahawks are planning to waive Hankerson, according to Pete Nakos of On3, and if he clears waivers he’ll be eligible to chase one more season in college. That possibility comes from a new development that has opened the door for players who graduated high school in 2022 to pursue a fifth year of eligibility, including undrafted rookies like Hankerson. The change was made possible by a judge in Louisiana during the week of Aug. 17, with former Ole Miss standout Dae’Quan Wright at the center of the situation.
“This come on the heels of the Dae’Quan Wright situation, the headliner of the players in this unique situation," Nakos wrote. "Wright was one of 16 football players who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in the state of Louisiana this past week. The court ruled that the 16 players, some of whom were competing in NFL training camps, could return to college with eligibility for the 2026 season."
There’s still a catch for Hankerson, though. If another NFL team claims him off waivers, especially one in need of running back help because of an injury, that could change the path entirely.
Hankerson’s college career already stretched across two Colorado coaches. He began in 2022 under Karl Dorrell, putting up 274 rushing yards and three touchdowns during a 1-11 season that ended with Dorrell out the door.
A year later, Deion Sanders took over and started the Buffaloes’ reset with an upset of then-national championship game runner-up TCU before Colorado finished 4-8. Hankerson was part of that first Sanders team, rushing for 319 yards and a touchdown while adding 16 catches for 71 yards.
He didn’t finish his career in Boulder, though. Hankerson moved on to Oregon State in the truncated Pac-12, where only the Beavers and Washington State remained.
That’s where his production took off. He posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Corvallis, including a career-high 1,086 yards in 2025, and scored 24 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Even with that résumé, he went undrafted. Hankerson had a short stint with the Miami Dolphins before landing with the defending Super Bowl champions. He also got brief game action against the Tennessee Titans, carrying the ball and catching passes seven times for a total of 19 yards in a 19-16 loss.
Back in Boulder, Sanders has been upbeat about his 2026 roster, especially with offensive coordinator Brennan Marion bringing a new look to an offense that needed a spark. Marion’s "Go-Go" system leans on a running back-by committee approach, which could make Hankerson an appealing fit.
But Colorado’s backfield looks crowded. Alabama transfer Richard Young arrives as a Doak Walker Award watch list candidate, and Marion also has two of his former Sacramento State backs, JaQuail Smith and Damian Henderson II, in the mix. DeKalon Taylor and returning leading rusher Micah Welch add even more bodies to the room.
Because of that depth, Hankerson likely has to look elsewhere if he wants to return to college football.
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Running backs coach Johnnie Mack said Young is making progress in learning the system, which at least gives Colorado a path forward as camp and the season approach. Still, the missed time leaves his role for 2026 very much up in the air, and the Buffaloes will have to wait a little longer to see how much of an impact he can make once he is fully available. [Read more 🡒]