LSU HC Lane Kiffin, TE Dae’Quan Wright May Have Eligibility Battle With SEC

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For the time being, the courts have decided it’s fine for several players who have been in the NFL during training camp this year to return to college and play a fifth season. Among them is tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who is set to join the LSU Tigers and head coach Lane Kiffin.

It’s a highly controversial move. Last year in college basketball, Alabama took Charles Bediako back despite playing professionally. He’d play briefly until the courts overturned the ruling that allowed him to return, but fans around the country hated the move, which was seen as a morbid approach to trying to win by Alabama.

This move by LSU and Kiffin is being viewed similarly. However, just because the courts had their say doesn’t mean that there may not be a battle with the SEC.

The SEC May Present an Eligibility Battle to the LSU Tigers, Dae’Quan Wright

GettyDae’Quan Wright in the College Football Playoff with Ole Miss

Shortly after the initial preliminary injunction to allow fifth-year players to return from a Colorado judge, which notably excluded transfers and professional players, a separate court ruling allowed players like Dae’Quan Wright to return, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey sent out a memo to member schools. In it, he reminded them that the conference’s eligibility rules are still in place.

“Court filings and rulings related to the current NCAA eligibility landscape remain highly dynamic. As these various court proceedings continue, institutions should operate under existing NCAA rules, interpretations, and applicable Conference rules unless and until otherwise advised by the NCAA, the Conference, or a court order. Recent court rulings should not be interpreted as creating broader eligibility relief beyond the scope of the applicable orders,” Sankey wrote.

“In addition, SEC eligibility rules, including those relating to intraconference transfers, remain in effect until fully or individually waived, or the rule is changed. If your institution is presented with a fact-specific eligibility question, please coordinate with your compliance office and Conference staff before acting or making commitments based on an assumption regarding an individual’s eligibility.”

In other words, Sankey laid the groundwork to again challenge a move like LSU bringing back Wright. That’s because he played at Ole Miss a season ago, another SEC school. So, as Sankey pointed out, intraconference transfer eligibility rules still apply. It’s just a matter of whether or not they’re willing to challenge the move.

Andy Staples of On3 further explained that SEC and NCAA rules often act in concert. That isn’t the case with the intraconference transfer rules.

“But the SEC rule that forbids players from transferring to another SEC school if they didn’t enter the first transfer portal window of the offseason doesn’t have an NCAA counterpart. It also doesn’t exist in other leagues. Only SEC schools have agreed to follow this rule,” Staples wrote.

Then, there is still the chance that courts change their direction through the lawsuit itself. It’s just a temporary restraining order that is allowing Wright to play at LSU, and that can change quickly in the modern landscape.

LSU HC Lane Kiffin Defended Recruiting Dae’Quan Wright

GettyLSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin

Lane Kiffin is aware that he’s been heavily criticized for his decision to bring Dae’Quan Wright to LSU. That’s criticism he’s very aware of, and recently responded to.

“So, you know, we have you know made a decision to recruit some kids around the country, and through these multiple injunctions around the country, which, this is not a first time in college sports, players were granted a fifth year of eligibility in multiple sports. And through them winning their injunction and entry into the portal, they’re available to recruit. So ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them,” Kiffin said.

“At the end of the day, you know, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play somewhere else around the country. So, we made a decision to recruit them.”

In other words, Kiffin is blaming the courts. It’s the courts who made the ruling, so he’s just trying to put a good team on the field for LSU.

It’s a similar sentiment to what Ohio State head coach Ryan Day recently shared. He claims to not like it, but admits he may do it to improve the roster at Ohio State.

“If there are teams that have some players out there who are cut from NFL rosters that are gonna be on other teams, we have to at least consider it and look at it. Do I like anything about it? Absolutely not, but we gotta do what’s right for Ohio State,” Day said.

Coaches want to win, and they’re clearly going to do what it takes to win. It doesn’t matter if most people agree that they don’t think former professionals should play in college. So, debate it right or wrong, but coaches are thinking about winning with these moves and will keep doing it until rules don’t allow it.

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