Dae’Quan Wright Could Make College Football Return After NFL Stint

Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright could be heading back to college football after being waived by the Cleveland Browns, with a Louisiana court order allowing certain players an unexpected fifth year of NCAA eligibility.

According to the Associated Press, Wright's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Monday that the tight end had been waived by Cleveland and could join LSU if he clears waivers. A move to Baton Rouge would reunite Wright with LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, who previously coached him at Ole Miss.

Wright joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie following the NFL Draft before being released on August 11. He was subsequently signed by the Browns but did not appear in Cleveland's first two preseason games.

The potential return to college football comes as part of a wider legal dispute over NCAA eligibility rules. Wright was among players who challenged the NCAA's eligibility regulations, arguing that the new five-year eligibility rule should also apply to athletes who were not covered by the original provisions.

A Louisiana judge subsequently allowed the players involved in the lawsuit to receive a fifth year of eligibility and ordered the football transfer portal to reopen for one week for those players.

A Unique Situation

If Wright joins LSU, he is expected to become one of the first players to return to college football after having already played in the NFL.

Lane Kiffin acknowledged Monday that players involved in the lawsuit are now available for colleges to recruit. He also indicated that LSU and other programs are exploring the opportunity.

For Wright, a return to LSU would represent an unusual next chapter in his football career. During two seasons at Ole Miss, he caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.

The situation could also have wider implications for college football, as other players affected by the court ruling could potentially follow a similar path back into the college game.

Sport @ Real Terryo View

The developing situation involving Dae’Quan Wright highlights the changing landscape of college football eligibility and the increasingly complicated relationship between college football, the transfer portal and the NFL.

Should Wright clear waivers and complete his move to LSU, his return would be a remarkable story — going from an NFL preseason roster back to college football in the same year.

Sport @ Real Terryo will continue to follow this developing story and the wider impact of the court ruling on college football.

Source: Associated Press. This Sport @ Real Terryo article summarises the reported developments and does not reproduce the original AP report in full.