LSU Set to Sign First NFL Player to Return to College Football

PUBLISHED Aug 24, 2026, 12:25 PM ET

Cleveland waived tight end Dae’Quan Wright on Sunday, Aug. 23, creating a path for him to return to college football at LSU if he clears NFL waivers. Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press. Wright entered the NCAA transfer portal Thursday after Louisiana’s 19th Judicial District Court granted him and 15 other football players temporary eligibility relief. The order followed lawsuits by athletes from the 2022 recruiting class challenging NCAA eligibility rules. Wright played at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss under LSU coach Lane Kiffin. He caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. The move remains conditional: Wright must clear waivers, with SEC transfer questions unresolved. The NCAA also won a stay Friday in a separate federal case, but that ruling does not automatically erase Louisiana’s temporary order. Wright could become the first player to return from an NFL roster to college football.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 24
Right Leaning:: 2
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 22

Explain Framing

Left: Coverage emphasizes athlete rights and NCAA rule changes creating disparities. Center: Coverage emphasizes conditional status, court rulings, waivers, and eligibility uncertainty. Right: Coverage emphasizes competitive fairness, roster disruption, and NCAA institutional authority.