Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris have gone from familiar names in Oxford to the center of one of college football’s wildest eligibility battles.
Both former Ole Miss starters are set to head back to school and suit up for Lane Kiffin at LSU, despite the fact that each had already signed NFL contracts. The path back opened after the NCAA adopted a five-for-five eligibility model in June, then widened again when a Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order and, later, a preliminary injunction on Thursday, Sept. 3 that blocks the SEC or NCAA from punishing schools that play former pro players.
That puts LSU in a strange spot heading into its opener against Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 5. Wright and Harris were left off the roster for that game, but they remain enrolled and could still join the Tigers later.
The two were part of Ole Miss’ 2025 team that won a school-record 13 games and reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, where it lost narrowly to Miami. They weren’t the biggest names on that roster - quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy drew more attention - but both Wright and Harris were steady contributors.
After the season, neither was taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who waived him on Aug.
- The Cleveland Browns claimed him a day later, and he even dressed for their preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22 before being waived two days after that.
Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints and was waived on Aug. 10.
While both were trying to stick in the NFL, they were also part of the 2022 recruiting class group that sued the NCAA for another year of eligibility. The judge’s ruling gave them the opening to return to college, and both committed to LSU, where they reunited with Kiffin after his move from Ole Miss to Baton Rouge following the 2025 regular season.
Harris said on Friday, Sept. 4 that he had originally planned to go back to Ole Miss, but the coaching staff wanted to move him from defensive tackle to the offensive line.
The SEC responded by passing a measure that would bar NFL players from returning to college and competing for any of its 16 schools. Jorden’s injunction, though, stopped the conference and NCAA from punishing a program like LSU for using those players.
If Wright gets on the field, he expects to be ready quickly. He said he has practiced with LSU for two days this week and plans to be available against Clemson.
"I've been working out doing my own thing before I was able to practice, so I'm definitely well prepared," Wright said.
Harris, on the other hand, said he’ll need a couple of weeks before he’s ready, which points to the Sept. 19 trip to Ole Miss as a possible target. That game will also bring Kiffin back to the school where he coached for six seasons before his messy exit last November.
Even with the legal door open, neither player is expected to walk in and take over a starting job right away. Wright is a productive tight end and earned second-team All-SEC honors last season, but he appears set to trail 6-foot-7 sophomore Trey’Dez Green, who caught seven touchdowns a year ago. Harris, a 6-foot-8 defensive lineman, is also expected to provide depth rather than start immediately.
Wright finished last season with 39 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns, after posting 27 receptions for 394 yards and four scores in 2024 at Virginia Tech.
Harris put together a strong year on the Ole Miss defense with 58 tackles, three sacks and an interception. Across his first four seasons with the Rebels, the Mississippi native totaled 122 tackles, 5.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
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