LSU Adds Two to Finalize Roster; Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris Out This Season

The conflict surrounding ex-NFL players attempting to go back to college football seems to have concluded, at least temporarily.

By bringing in two new athletes, LSU has filled its squad to the maximum limit of 105 players. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the Tigers secured defensive end Gabriel Reliford and cornerback Aidan Anding. Because the team has reached its 105-man capacity, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris are barred from joining the LSU lineup for the current campaign.

Both Wright and Harris have generated significant headlines and debate recently due to their involvement in the NFL preseason this year, where they actually took the field for exhibition matchups.

Following their release from their professional teams, and in light of a revised NCAA eligibility policy granting athletes five years of play over a five-year period, the duo sought to return to collegiate sports for a final year.

Legal teams stepped in, leading to various courts issuing injunctions across several states, which rapidly complicated the entire situation.

This triggered a massive dispute within FBS programs, ultimately leading the SEC and LSU to set up legal hearings and conferences to review potential sanctions against the university if it permitted professional players on the team. One severe possibility discussed was the league expelling LSU, though this scenario was likely averted by the university’s roster adjustments on Tuesday evening.

Currently, there is no official word on whether the upcoming Thursday hearing aimed at determining “if Louisiana State University (‘LSU’) should be removed as an SEC member” is off the schedule or will proceed as planned.

Prior to LSU’s inaugural match of the season against Clemson, Wright and Harris received eligibility clearance. Both athletes had previously been under head coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss; however, Kiffin chose not to place them on the squad before the Clemson game, leaving two of the 105 available slots vacant.

During a segment on “College GameDay,” the LSU head coach explained his reasoning, explaining that the primary concern was the complete uncertainty regarding potential penalties the university might face.

“It was a tough choice. While I sympathize deeply with the players, and I am a proponent of standing up for your beliefs, and I feel these young men should have the chance to compete—much like other student-athletes nationwide who are prevailing in legal battles and securing spots on rosters.

However, at the end of the day, my role is to lead LSU’s football program, and I had to prioritize the broader interests of this university and our team, given the unknown ramifications that could have arisen from putting them on the squad.”