Reports Suggest LSU Could Use Former NFL Players Later This Season, But Face HUGE SEC Penalties
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While Lane Kiffin and LSU avoided a chaotic situation in Week 1 of the college football season, a new report keeps the door wide open for the program to use a pair of former NFL players later this season.
This has been a wild last couple of weeks for Kiffin and the Tigers. In August, several state court rulings, including in Louisiana, gave over a dozen athletes who were playing for NFL teams this summer another year of eligibility. The LSU coach jumped at the unexpected opportunity and agreed to NIL deals with Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. That earned a ton of blowback from inside and outside the SEC.
The Big Ten came out strongly against the signings soon after and created new bylaws banning former NFL players from joining rosters in their conference. The SEC, ACC, and Big 12 quickly followed suit. However, Kiffin and LSU planned to stay the course and have Harris and Wright on the roster for their Week 1 clash with Clemson, despite rumors that executives at SEC schools have considered expelling LSU from the conference and recent involvement from the Georgia Attorney General.
LSU keeps door open to using former NFL players later this season, but face HUGE penalties
On Thursday, a new court ruling cleared the way for Harris and Wright to play this weekend. However, the groundswell against that plan and a new lawsuit against LSU from the SEC made officials stand down. So the former NFL players won’t suit up on Saturday. However, that doesn’t mean the program has given up on that possibility later this year.
On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that LSU submitted a roster of 103 players. Two short of the college football limit. This would suggest they are keeping the door open for Harris and Wright to play later this season. Furthermore, a statement Ryan Downton of Texas Trial Group gave to the insider added fuel to that possibility.
“LSU has made a measured decision to keep these two young men off the roster for now while preserving a path for them to be added later… Neither player was drafted, made an NFL roster or practice squad, or even played a pre-season game. One received just $190 in gas money, and one never participated in a single practice because of a college injury.
[SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey] repeatedly testified that individual circumstances matter and acknowledged he was not familiar with the specific circumstances of these two players. We agree. Before this escalates any further, examine their actual histories… Respect the courts, protect the players, and let level heads prevail.”– Ryan Downtown
If LSU did feel they had legal rulings backing their decision to play Harris and Wright, Thamel also pointed out they will face serious penalties from the conference. On Saturday’s College Gameday, he noted that 10 days ago SEC presidents passed new penalties for signing former NFL talent. Including a half-season suspension for the head coach and a $20 million fine.
In one other report, the college football insider added that “Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris are not allowed to practice for LSU until they are on the roster, per NCAA rules.”
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