That does not make them professional football players, because what that article is talking about are the players being allowed to collect endorsement fees, not a salary from the college. Big difference. 🙂
That makes them professionals by way of their football playing.
One of course could argue that they have been professionals all along, given the scholarships and the like.
Remember, until the 70s Olympic athletes couldn’t accept any endorsements. Otherwise, they were not considered amateurs, which is what nonprofessional athletes were.