Maurice Clarett's path to the NFL is now much clearer.

A U.S. district judge decided the NFL's rule requiring players to be out of high school for three years before entering the draft violates antitrust laws.

This opens the door for Clarett to enter this April's draft.

A 71-page ruling issued by Judge Shira A. Scheindlin rejected the principal legal defenses of the National Football League, according to Jeff Pash, NFL chief in-house council.

"The eligibility rule is not protected by the collective bargaining agreement," he said.

"It's legally erroneous for the judge to hold that wasn't covered," Pash added.

The current bargaining agreement, which is a contract between the NFL Players' Union and the team franchise owners that establishes, among other things, the three-year rule between high school graduation and NFL eligibility. It was approved five years ago and does not expire until 2008.

Pash said the current loophole will be evaluated at the upcoming owners' winter meetings.

Pash said that, for the time being, the next step for the NFL is to go to trial court and then possibly the court of appeals before issuing a formal appeal of the matter.

However, with the NFL Draft just three months away, there is not a lot of time for a long, drawn out case to go through the court system.

Pash said that having a judge hand down a verdict before the draft is unlikely.

On the other side of Clarett going to the NFL is his current school, Ohio State University, which he helped lead to the 2002 national championship.

Ohio State Athletic Director Andy Geiger said in a press release if things don't work out with the draft, Clarett would be welcomed back to Columbus.

"Should Maurice elect to continue his education and football career at Ohio State, we will work with him in the process of seeking his reinstatement with the NCAA for the 2004 season," he said.

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel would not comment on the Clarett situation, according to the Ohio State student newspaper, The Lantern.

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany issued a statement saying, "This is a matter for the National Football League and its players' association. Issues of access to professional leagues for college student-athletes are properly not within our control."

Calls made by The Daily Collegian to numerous NFL coaches and general managers were not returned, except for one made to New York Giants GM Ernie Accorsi. He said nobody in the NFL would comment on the situation. All statements that concern the NFL would be made by Pash.

Possibly the biggest issue in this matter now concerns the future of college football and its players. Pash said that according to the ruling by Judge Scheindlin, freshmen and sophomores could now enter the draft.

He said they would still have to apply, but the line that was previously drawn for players considering leaving college for the NFL is no longer cut and dry.

Barring any unforeseen developments such as further litigation or injury, it is pretty clear Clarett will be playing in the NFL next season.

"I don't have the slightest doubt that he'd be treated like any other player," Pash said. "If he can play, he'll be out on the field every weekend."

Though he may be in the game, it will most likely be a far cry from his collegiate days with the Buckeyes. Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis said there will definitely be a difference between Clarett's adaptation to the NFL and that of a college basketball player transitioning to the NBA.

"There's got to be a shadow of a doubt," Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis said. "It's not like basketball where if you get touched by a grown man, a foul is called."

Fellow Nittany Lions player John Bronson said the ruling will create problems for college football.

"I definitely think he'll go to the draft, but I don't know if he'll make it," he said. "It will cause problems for colleges and make it more like basketball."

Graham Spanier, the Big Ten's chairman of the Council of Presidents/Chancellors, is out of town and could not be reached for comment. Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley said he would hold off on any comment until reading more about the situation.

Penn State Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson said that football coach Joe Paterno had no comment.