The NFL Management Council just dropped a bombshell, ruling former Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris an eligible free agent, free to work out or sign with any franchise he chooses. This isn’t just a simple announcement, though. Harris was actually ruled ineligible to join an NFL team back in September, making this a huge about-face by the league.
The Back-and-Forth on Harris’s Eligibility
So, what happened to spark this crazy reversal? The league changed its mind after Harris disputed their claim that he played college football this season. Turns out, he never even practiced at LSU, his intended school after he got a preliminary eligibility injunction. Because of that, the NFL designated him as a free agent, letting him join any team on its active roster or practice squad right away. This whole saga comes on the heels of more than two dozen athletes, who had signed professional contracts, attempting to return to college after the NCAA’s “five for five” ruling this past summer. LSU coach Lane Kiffin was seriously chasing several of these players, including Harris, Ole Miss tight end Da’Quan Wright, and even former LSU edge rusher Jack Pyburn, who’s now locked into a three-year rookie deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a breakout preseason.
LSU initially expected to bring Harris, a former Ole Miss standout, onto their roster in August, right after a brief preseason stint with the New Orleans Saints and a Louisiana court ruling that allowed Class of 2022 athletes to get a fifth year of eligibility. But then the whole thing blew up. LSU backed off adding Harris and Wright in September after the SEC laid down the law, threatening to kick the Tigers out of the conference. Can you believe that? CBS Sports even reported at the time that the SEC was weighing game forfeitures, a federal lawsuit, and yes, even possible expulsion if LSU didn’t back down. Expulsion was deemed “extremely, extremely unlikely,” but it shows just how frustrated the conference was. The SEC later even filed a federal lawsuit against Coach Kiffin, athletic director Verge Ausberry, and the university. Wild times.
What Harris Brings and Wright’s Lingering Questions
Zxavian Harris was in training camp with the Saints after going undrafted in 2026. This dude was a four-star recruit in the 2022 signing class and absolutely went off as a senior last fall. He was a critical piece in the Rebels’ defense, just wrecking havoc in the middle of the line. We’re talking 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks! That kind of production was enough to get Harris an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Any team looking for a disruptive presence up front could definitely use that kind of talent.
Now, here’s where it gets even more confusing. While Harris is cleared, former Ole Miss tight end Da’Quan Wright isn’t eligible yet under current NFL rules, according to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero. Wright apparently worked out for the Green Bay Packers earlier this month, even before this memo came out. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, spoke to ESPN last month about his client’s situation, but it looks like the league is still holding him up.
So, Harris is free, ready to sign, and we’ll be watching closely to see which franchise snags him. For Wright, though, the waiting game continues, and we’re all left wondering what the heck the NFL’s full plan is here.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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