Today, Oregon sprinter and football star Devon Allen, who will compete in the men's 110m hurdles at the Rio Olympic Games, told Sara Germano of the Wall Street Journal that he could go pro in track and continue to play football for Oregon.

Devon Allen, US 110m hurdler and Oregon wide receiver, asked if he has to choose btwn track and football, says he wants to pursue both.

— Sara Germano (@germanotes) August 11, 2016

Says he can go pro in track as long as he doesn't sign shoe contract and still play Oregon football, but essentially could collect prize $

— Sara Germano (@germanotes) August 11, 2016

Being a professional athlete in one sport while maintaining your NCAA eligibility in another--that seems like a weird loophole, no?

According to Germano, he cannot accept a sponsorship and continue to play Oregon football. But, if what Allen told her is correct, he can race in elite meets while complying with the NCAA's football eligibility requirements by entering as an unattached athlete who can only accept prize money, and not sponsorship endorsements.

Last week, USA Today published an article that featured Ohio State wrestler and Rio Olympian Kyle Snyder, who received $50,000 for winning the world championships last September. USA Wrestling also gives him a monthly stipend for training expenses. But he has not broken any NCAA rules.

Similarly, swimmer Katie Ledecky, who has already won two individual golds and two relay medals (gold and silver) in Rio, could walk away with $125,000 and still compete for Stanford this year. And, like USA Wrestling, USA Swimming allots monthly stipends to college swimmers who meet criteria set by the governing body.

Sports Law Blog does a great job of explaining the specifics pertaining to the USOC's Operation Gold grants (awards for Olympic medals) and it's deal with the NCAA. It was quite the hot topic in 2012 when swimmer Missy Franklin was allowed to keep money from her four gold medals in London.

So basically, Allen, who is one of the 90 current or recently graduated NCAA track and field athletes representing 28 countries in Rio, could pocket the $25,000 should he win the gold medal in the 110m hurdles (or, heck, $15K for silver and $10K for bronze). And that would be OK! 

In my opinion, he doesn't need to go pro in track yet. If he wants to continue playing football for Oregon and running track competitively, he could accept prize money at upcoming Diamond League track meets, but Allen isn't going to go to any of those after Rio. He's going to fly back to Eugene and get ready for football season. And the prize money is heavily taxed. Is that worth it?

Allen should stay in Oregon, play football, run track and accept the allowed prize monies from USATF, USOC and the IOC--all while not pissing off the NCAA.