LSU omits two former NFL players from roster ahead of Clemson opener
LSU did not list tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris on its roster for the season-opening game against Clemson, while legal disputes over their eligibility continue.
LSU confirmed that tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris were not included on the team roster for Saturday's season-opening matchup with Clemson, according to ESPN reporter Pete Thamel. Both athletes remain enrolled at the university and could be added later in the year.
A Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday that allows players who spent time in NFL training camps to compete in college for a fifth year, a ruling that could affect Wright and Harris.
"Certain eligibility issues may breach contractual obligations between the two parties," Clemson general counsel Chip Hood wrote in a brief email to LSU's legal counsel, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The SEC and ACC have recently adopted rules barring players who declared for the NFL draft without proper withdrawal or who signed professional contracts from returning to college competition. Wright signed a waiver to rejoin LSU for the 2026 season after leaving the Cleveland Browns, and Harris committed after being waived by the New Orleans Saints.
The SEC filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Alabama alleging that LSU violated the league's First Amendment right of expressive association by ignoring the new eligibility restrictions, but the preliminary injunction still permits Wright and Harris to play.