NFL declares Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who were at center of LSU controversy, ineligible for 2026 season

It seems Zxavian Harris and Dae'Quan Wright won't be playing football anywhere in 2026 — at least not in the NFL or NCAA. The NFL sent a memo to teams Wednesday declaring Harris and Wright ineligible to visit, try out or sign with an NFL team during the 2026 season.

Per the NFL memo, concerning Harris and Wright:

"The following players who were eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft returned to college and participated with their college football team after the opening of NFL training camp, and therefore, they are ineligible to visit, tryout [sic] with, or be signed by NFL clubs during the 2026 season."

Harris, Wright now banished from college and NFL football

Harris, a defensive tackle, and Wright, a tight end, were at the center of the NCAA eligibility controversy at LSU in the preseason. Both players agreed to join Lane Kiffin's LSU roster after signing with NFL teams but not making rosters.

This set off a firestorm in the SEC and across the NCAA as LSU appeared intent on rostering both players in spite of SEC mandates that neither player was eligible. Amid the intense outside pressure, LSU opted to not include either player on its final roster.

Now Harris and Wright are ineligible to play in the NFL until the 2027 season.

Harris and Wright both played for Kiffin when Kiffin was the head coach at Ole Miss. Neither player was drafted to the NFL after the 2025 season, but both players signed with NFL teams ahead of training camps.

Wright signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Cleveland Browns for their training camp. He was waived by the Browns. Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints and was also waived.

After being released, both players attempted to rejoin the NCAA with Kiffin at LSU, ultimately setting up a showdown with LSU against the SEC and NCAA regarding their eligibility.

Baton Rouge judge's ruling set off firestorm at LSU

They both initially joined LSU after a court ruling by Baton Rouge-based District Court Judge William Jorden granted more than 40 former NCAA athletes from the 2022 recruiting class a fifth year of eligibility in conflict with an NCAA ruling restricting them. The NCAA recently passed its "five in five" model granting athletes five years of eligibility, but it did not apply to the 2022 recruiting class.

Jorden's ruling led to a wave of players who had signed pro contracts attempting to return to college on NIL deals, several with LSU. The SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC responded with their own resolutions barring players who had been drafted by pro teams or signed pro contracts from playing for their programs.

Kiffin welcomed Wright and Harris in defiance of the SEC resolution, escalating the situation to the point that the SEC was considering expelling LSU from the conference .

LSU ultimately left Harris and Wright off its final roster amid the conflict. The end result for Wright and Harris is that they find themselves in football limbo.