LSU Tigers Gain Key Players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris After SEC Policy Change
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The LSU Tigers and Lane Kiffin have pushed to add former Ole Miss standouts Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris despite both signing NFL contracts earlier this year.
That decision has put LSU directly at odds with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and the conference’s newly adopted policy, with the Tigers being the only SEC program that refrained from voting on it.
However, on Saturday, that standoff has swung significantly toward LSU. According to multiple reports, including attorney Darren Heitner’s, the SEC and Sankey will comply with applicable court orders protecting players seeking a fifth college season, including orders stemming from litigation in Louisiana and Texas.
Heitner added the orders should give schools “sufficient cover” to roster protected athletes without facing the SEC penalties announced earlier this week, even if they were members of an NFL organization at some point.
The SEC had taken a hard line, prohibiting schools from rostering athletes who signed professional contracts or appeared on professional rosters. Violations carried potential penalties including a half-season head-coach suspension and a fine totaling 50% of the sport’s annual operating budget.
Wright and Harris are among players operating under temporary restraining orders, with their case for a preliminary injunction scheduled for Sept. 3.
“To be clear, nothing requires any school to roster any player,” Heitner wrote. “However, if the school decides it is in its best interests to do so, the court order should provide sufficient cover.”
And to add additional clarity, such cover only exists when it comes to rostering players who are named plaintiffs in the action that includes language in a court order prohibiting the conference from taking action against the institution and its coaching staff.
— Darren Heitner (@heitner) August 29, 2026
This news represents a potentially significant boost for Kiffin and LSU heading into the 2026 college football season.
Wright spent time with the Cleveland Browns after previously signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, while Harris was with the New Orleans Saints. Both previously played for Kiffin at Ole Miss and have committed to LSU after not appearing in any NFL preseason game.
If Wright and Harris receive the preliminary injunction next week, the Tigers can roster both without the SEC imposing its threatened penalties as they prepare for their Sept. 5 opener against Clemson.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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