NFL Says Harris, Wright Ineligible In 2026 After Attempt To Play For LSU

Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright are ineligible to join any NFL teams this season after they attempted to return to college and play for LSU, the league said in a memo sent to each NFL team. Harris was a defensive tackle and Wright played tight end for Mississippi during its run to a College Football Playoff semifinal last season. Both had tryouts in the NFL this summer after going undrafted, with Wright first joining the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in April before being cut in August, when he had a brief stay with the Cleveland Browns, and Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints before being placed on the non-football injury list in July, prior to being waived in August. They then tried joining former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin at LSU and sued for the right to regain their college eligibility, after a Louisiana judge granted 33 athletes – 16 of them football players – a temporary restraining order to seek a fifth year of eligibility. After the Southeastern Conference passed a rule barring pros from heading back to college to play and a Louisiana court put that restriction on hold, LSU left both players off its roster as it opened its season. Beforehand, the SEC had threatened to vote on removing LSU from the conference, but in the end no punishments were handed out since the Tigers complied with the ban. The NFL’s letter noted both Harris and Wright “were eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, returned to college and participated with their college football team after the opening of NFL training camp, and therefore, they are ineligible to visit, try out with or be signed by NFL clubs during the 2026 season.” The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was dated Wednesday. Harris and Wright were the only players mentioned in the letter. The NFL acknowledged this list didn’t include all 2026 draft-eligible players who returned to college and said teams should contact the league’s player personnel department with any questions about a player’s eligibility. The letter also noted it is each team’s responsibility to verify a player’s eligibility. Discipline for eligibility violations can include fines and/or the loss of draft picks. The Associated Press contributed to this report.