Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright, LSU’s two former NFL players, will not suit up for Week 1 against Clemson, despite a Louisiana judge ruling just yesterday that cleared the way for their controversial return to college football. This whole situation has been pure Lane Kiffin drama from the jump, and it’s not letting up.
Just last month, both Harris, a defensive lineman, and Wright, a tight end, were on NFL rosters before Kiffin signed them. That move set off an absolute firestorm between LSU and the SEC. On Thursday, just two days before their kickoff against Clemson, the SEC dropped a federal lawsuit naming Kiffin and LSU, trying to block these guys from ever seeing the field. Talk about high stakes, right? But then a Louisiana judge stepped in, granting Harris and Wright additional eligibility. An appeals hearing went down on Thursday, and the judge straight-up sided with the players, making them eligible to play. Even the Governor, Jeff Landry, weighed in, saying the court ruled for the athletes and that the SEC and NCAA aren’t allowed to punish them for playing. So, with the path cleared, the decision was firmly in LSU’s hands.
And what a decision it was. LSU made their official roster call on Friday, and sources confirmed neither Wright nor Harris were added to the roster for the Clemson game. They’ve got 103 players submitted right now, leaving two spots open. Yeah, both guys are enrolled at the school, and there’s still a chance they could get added to the roster later in the season. But for now, they are out. This whole eligibility saga isn’t totally over yet either, with two ongoing legal battles still in play, making their full-season status a question mark. But for Saturday’s massive Week 1 showdown against Clemson, they are on the sidelines.
It’s a wild twist, man. Kiffin pushed hard, the courts sided with the players, and then the Tigers just… didn’t play them. What does this mean for the rest of the season? Will we see Harris and Wright later on? And how will LSU look against Clemson without these two impact players? This story is far from over, and you know Kiffin always keeps us guessing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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