It’s been an absolute whirlwind for LSU Tigers fans this week, and honestly, the whole college football world is looking sideways at what’s going down. First off, former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright and New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, both NFL guys, somehow got a fifth year of eligibility and transferred to LSU. Yeah, you heard that right: straight back to their old coach Lane Kiffin. That move blew up into days of intense debate among SEC bigwigs and their counterparts across the country, questioning if this whole thing should even be legal.
The SEC Drops the Ban Hammer
The league’s response was swift, though maybe not complete. On Tuesday, the SEC officially banned players from coming back to college after turning pro. But don’t think for a second this saga is over. Wright, Harris, and any other athletes caught up in this mess have another court date lined up for August 31. This isn’t just about a couple of transfers, though. We’re talking about Lane Kiffin himself getting deep in the weeds. John Talty and Chris Hummer reported for CBS Sports that Kiffin personally recruited players still under NFL contracts to join a lawsuit in Louisiana court. The goal? To force the NCAA to grant them a fifth year of college eligibility.
Kiffin’s “Creative” Recruiting and a Messy Situation
Now, LSU isn’t the first school to chase this wild path. Texas brought in offensive lineman Cole Hutson, who had been in NFL minicamps but wasn’t actually signed, after his own lawsuit in Texas. Colorado also had a rule that, for a bit, allowed 2022 players back for a fifth year, but that didn’t include former pros. LSU took it to a whole other level. Kiffin and the Tigers apparently reached out to multiple players on NFL rosters, or their reps, to get them to file suit against the NCAA and head back to school. Sources are even saying the Louisiana lawsuit wasn’t “tried in Baton Rouge by accident.” Kiffin, in his Monday press conference after practice, tried to defend himself: “Because of the rulings, they are going to play for you or someone else. We made the decision to recruit them. It’s wrong to be critical of these kids. They were granted a fifth year and a judge said they were wronged.”
Look, this whole situation is beyond messy. Kiffin’s actions smell an awful lot like tampering, even if it’s with professional outfits instead of rival college teams. And legally, it’s a total swamp trying to figure out if the SEC’s new ban can even hold up against player challenges. With LSU kicking off their season against the Clemson Tigers on September 5, everyone involved needs to get this cleaned up fast. The clock is ticking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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