Ex-NFL Tight End Dae'Quan Wright Heads to LSU After Clearing Waivers
Dae'Quan Wright, who recently played for the Cleveland Browns, has cleared waivers and is set to join LSU's football program. He is reportedly the first player to return to college after an NFL stint. Wright previously had a standout season at Ole Miss with 39 receptions and five touchdowns.
Wright’s path back to the college ranks was made possible by a Louisiana court’s temporary restraining order, which allowed 33 athletes across multiple sports—including 16 football players—to pursue a fifth year of eligibility. He is believed to be the first player ever to appear on an NFL roster and then return to college competition. During his final season at Ole Miss, Wright recorded 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns, including scores in an SEC win over South Carolina and the Rebels’ College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Miami. He went undrafted in April and spent training camp on Cleveland’s practice squad before being waived. Several other players, including former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, also entered the portal under the same court ruling.
This move could reshape the boundary between professional and collegiate athletics, potentially opening a pathway for other NFL players to return to college rosters. If accepted as a precedent, it may pressure the NCAA to formalize eligibility rules for former pros, affecting roster management, scholarship limits, and competitive balance across conferences. Fans and administrators could see increased roster churn, while players gain new leverage in career decisions. The long-term impact may depend on how courts and governing bodies respond to future eligibility challenges.