Business & Finance
Former NFL player practices with No. 11 LSU amid ongoing NCAA eligibility litigation
Former Ole Miss and Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright joined LSU for practice as court battles challenge NCAA and conference eligibility rules.
The short version
- Former NFL player Dae'Quan Wright participated in a walk-through practice with No. 11 LSU under first-year coach Lane Kiffin ahead of their season opener against Clemson.
- Wright's ability to play remains uncertain due to ongoing legal battles over an SEC rule that blocks professional players from returning to the conference.
- Nearly 400 college athletes have filed lawsuits challenging NCAA eligibility guidelines, with a key hearing scheduled for Thursday in Baton Rouge.
Key facts
- Former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who played under coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss last season, practiced with LSU on Monday.[Associated Press]
- The Southeastern Conference passed a rule banning professional players from returning to the league, which was subsequently blocked by a Texas judge.[Associated Press]
- Nearly 400 athletes have filed lawsuits against the NCAA and other defendants, challenging rules including the '5-in-5' eligibility rule.[Associated Press]
- Because Wright's first day of practice was Monday, he is ruled out of Saturday's game against Clemson under the NCAA's seven-day acclimatization protocol.[Associated Press]
- Former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn was expected to return to the college team after being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Whether Wright, Zxavian Harris, Blake Cotton, or Junior Tuihalamaka will ultimately be ruled eligible to play for LSU depends on the outcomes of ongoing litigation.[Associated Press]