The NFL has informed its teams that Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright are barred from joining any NFL club this season after attempting to return to college and play for LSU, according to a league memo distributed to teams.
Harris, a defensive tackle, and Wright, a tight end, both played for Mississippi during its run to last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal. Neither was drafted; Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in April, was cut in August and briefly spent time with the Cleveland Browns, while Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints before being placed on the non-football injury list in July and then waived in August. Both players sought to regain college eligibility and join former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin at LSU after a Louisiana judge granted a temporary restraining order allowing 33 athletes — 16 of them football players — to pursue a fifth year of eligibility.
The situation unfolded amid an SEC rule barring professional players from returning to college football; although a Louisiana court temporarily put that restriction on hold, LSU did not list Harris or Wright on its roster when the season began. The conference had threatened to consider removing LSU from the SEC but ultimately did not impose penalties after the school complied with the ban.
The NFL’s memo states that because Harris and Wright were eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, then returned to college and participated with a college team after NFL training camps opened, they are ineligible to visit, try out with, or be signed by NFL teams for the 2026 season. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo dated Wednesday. The two players were the only names included; the league noted the list isn’t exhaustive and advised clubs to contact the NFL’s player personnel department with questions. Teams are responsible for confirming player eligibility, and violations can result in fines or the loss of draft picks.
Fan Take: This matters because it underscores the growing tension between pro and college rules and signals the NFL will enforce consequences when draft-eligible players return to school. For fans, it could change how teams evaluate late additions and influence the choices talented, draft-eligible athletes make about their immediate futures.
Source: www.foxsports.com
