Georgia Attorney General urges SEC to consider sanctioning LSU over use of former NFL players

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr sent a letter to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey urging the conference to use "all measures available," including possible suspension or removal of Louisiana State University, should the school roster athletes who have already signed NFL contracts. Carr said his office is prepared to "use all legal means necessary to protect the University of Georgia, student athletes, and the integrity of college athletics."

The letter, obtained by a news outlet, was dispatched a day before a preliminary injunction hearing in Baton Rouge. A Louisiana state judge had ruled that the SEC cannot penalize member schools for playing a player who returns to campus after signing an NFL deal, effectively blocking a conference rule that threatened penalties such as coach suspensions, fines equal to half the sport’s annual budget, and loss of voting rights.

The SEC’s rule was prompted by former Ole Miss players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris announcing plans to join former coach Lane Kiffin at LSU after leaving NFL training camps. Carr argued that LSU’s intention to ignore the conference policy raises legal concerns and noted the timing of the court orders.

"The substance and scope of those orders obviously raise serious legal concerns," Carr said. "However, the more immediate concern is that after the temporary orders took effect, one of the SEC's member institutions, Louisiana State University (LSU), indicated its plans to ignore the Conference policy by opting to roster one or more pro athletes this season."

The SEC declined to comment. During a coaches’ conference call, LSU coach Lane Kiffin said the lawsuit involves many athletes across sports and states, adding that the program will await further guidance from the SEC.