Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire not afraid to add players cut by NFL

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College football features more player movement than ever before. Student athletes are transferring from school to school on a regular basis. The idea of continuity seems antiquated in the NIL era. And this year there could be a whole new form of movement as players who spent the summer in NFL training camps are attempting to return to the college ranks.

Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright spent time under contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns over the past couple months. He decided to return to college and follow Lane Kiffin to LSU. Defensive tackle Zxavian Harris was cut by the New Orleans Saints and also is trying to join the LSU Tigers ahead of the season.

Both those players have hit a roadblock as the SEC joined the Big Ten on Tuesday, Aug. 25, by passing a rule banning players from going pro and then returning to college. The Big 12 has no such rule yet, so Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire plans to take advantage.

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“We’ve been monitoring, for the last week or so, how we can add, if possible, somebody to make this team better,” McGuire said. “We haven’t called any NFL coaches. We haven’t scouted any NFL players, that I think some teams have done, but we’re definitely gonna look.”

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Pro to college pipeline

McGuire isn’t concerned about how it looks and said his only concern is his record. “I know this: I get to keep my job if I win, and so I’m gonna constantly look at how we can be better as a team, and be better roster-wise,” he said.

As with Kiffin, McGuire is just taking advantage of the rules as they exist. Players, coaches and schools are going to do whatever they aren’t expressly forbidden from doing to help themselves. Either common sense or the conferences are going to have to step in. Of course, once they do, they’re going to have to go to court.

Who knows how long it’s going to take to settle on a new, modern set of rules that everyone can agree on. And who knows what other weird things we’re going to see. There was a time months (weeks?) ago when players joining NFL teams and then trying to go back to college was unthinkable. But here we are.

McGuire and Texas Tech have not been connected to any players who were cut by NFL teams. Yet.

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