No one is making them play football, and they know the physical risks. Many wouldn’t be in college if it was not for football. They can choose to become educated or not.
Except that the two things have become almost mutually exclusive. Oddly enough, if they were treated as minor leaguers in school, if they wanted to get an education, it would probably help.
Today they are under great pressure academically, with grade requirements, eligibility limits, financial limits, grants, loans and aid packages, etc. It really screws a lot of them up.
Reforming it would guarantee them a steady, performance based income, so if they just wanted to play ball they could; or if they wanted to take courses as well, they could. It might take them longer to get a degree, but no sweat. They wouldn’t have to go deeply in debt, nor fight for scholarships and grants, etc.
They would stop being expendable slaves to ridiculous rules.