The world of college football just got flipped on its head because Dae’Quan Wright, a tight end who was undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason and later got claimed by the Browns, is now reportedly set to join the LSU Tigers. This move comes after the Browns waived him this weekend, and it means we are seeing something completely new in American football: players making the jump to the NFL and then trying to come back to the collegiate level. Wright has an agreement with LSU if he clears waivers, thanks to a temporary restraining order from a Louisiana court that allows him and other athletes to play one more season.
The Wild Ride From NFL Prospect To Collegiate Comeback
Wright’s situation is absolutely wild. He was already playing for Lane Kiffin last season at Ole Miss, and now he is looking to reunite with him on the LSU roster. Think about that for a second: this guy was with an NFL team, and now he is potentially heading back to college. If this sticks, he would be the very first player to actually play for an NFL team and then return to the collegiate level. The lawsuit that paved the way for this temporary return was filed after the NCAA changed to a new 5-for-5 eligibility model this summer. The catch? They declined to offer a fifth year to Class of 2022 athletes who had already used up their eligibility under the old rules. It’s an eligibility crisis, plain and simple, and players like Wright are caught in the middle.
Dan Lanning Drops A Truth Bomb On Former Pros
You knew someone big was going to speak up, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning absolutely went viral on Sunday for his definitive opinion on players attempting to return to college after going pro. And let me tell you, players like Wright are not going to like what he had to say. Lanning did not mince words. “Once you go to the NFL, you’re in the NFL. You don’t get the opportunity to come back,” Lanning stated. He then doubled down, making it clear why he feels this way: “It’s unfair to the sport, and it’s unfair to the players on current teams for those guys to be coming back.” It is a strong take, but you can feel the frustration there, right? He’s thinking about the integrity of the game and the guys who have been grinding in college.
The NCAA Isn’t Backing Down
Here’s the kicker though: this whole case might become a moot point pretty quickly. The NCAA is not just sitting around letting these rulings stand. They have already been granted stays in multiple cases where initial injunctions were issued, which has halted the return of other players who were initially given eligibility. The organization made it crystal clear they are going to keep appealing these rulings, and they are doing it fast. That means the court decision that gave Wright his eligibility could very well be nullified in the near future. This saga is far from over, and the NCAA is fighting hard to keep the lines between the NFL and college football firmly drawn.
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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