Lane Kiffin defends recruiting 5th-year players, says they'll 'play for you or someone else'

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If nothing else, Lane Kiffin is familiar with being one of the biggest villains in college football.

This time, it wasn’t for leaving one school for a rival in an unnecessarily messy manner, or sending out a cryptic tweet, or even upsetting various hot yoga studios in the greater Oxford, Mississippi area.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, LSU and Kiffin reportedly reached an agreement with tight end Dae'Quan Wright for the former Mississippi standout tight end to join the Tigers’ program after he was waived by the Cleveland Browns. If Wright clears waivers, they’ll reunite at LSU.

REQUIRED READING: NFL tight end to join LSU to play college football if he clears waivers

What was once an unthinkable move — a player on an NFL roster who competed during the league’s preseason joining a college team — has sparked furor across the sport, with Kiffin and LSU on the receiving end of at least some of that anger.

During a media availability on Aug. 24, Kiffin addressed the criticism he and other coaches have received for adding fifth-year players who have been granted an additional season of eligibility through court rulings.

"Through (players) winning injunctions and entry into the portal, they are available to recruit,” Kiffin said. “Ourselves and many places around the country are recruiting them. … Because of the rulings, they are going to play for you or someone else.

"We made the decision to recruit them. It’s wrong to be critical of these kids. They were granted a fifth year and a judge said they were wronged."

Since Wright hasn’t technically signed with LSU yet, Kiffin was unable to publicly address his specific situation.

Last season, Wright was a second-team All-SEC selection after catching 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns for a Rebels team that won a school-record 13 games and advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. He spent his first two seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring to Ole Miss ahead of the 2024 season. 

Wright had been one of several members of the 2022 recruiting class who was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA by a Louisiana judge, opening the door for them to play a fifth season of college football. The 6-foot-4 Wright was undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft before ultimately signing with the Browns. He suited up for the team in its preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22, though he didn’t record any stats in the contest.

"I wondered why Lane Kiffin reached out a week ago," Browns coach Todd Monken said after the preseason loss. "Now I know. (Expletive) I didn't know, now I know. I didn't call him back, I guess now I should've."

For his part, Kiffin said he did not know Monken or have his number, saying that perhaps "someone else called him and said they were me."

At LSU, Wright will have to compete for snaps with Trey'Dez Green, a 6-foot-7 junior who joined Wright on the All-SEC second team last season after catching 33 passes for 433 yards and seven touchdowns for the Tigers.

Kiffin isn't alone among LSU coaches trying to bring aboard players with previous professional domestic experience. Among a handful of new additions with eligibility questions, Tigers men's basketball coach Will Wade received a commitment from 2024-25 Big East player of the year RJ Luis, who spent last season playing in the NBA G League.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Lane Kiffin defends recruiting 5th-year players, says they'll 'play for you or someone else'

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