The LSU Tigers are already poised to add former NFL tight end Dae’Quan Wright after the Cleveland Browns waived him. Now, defensive lineman Zxavian Harris has followed suit. He committed to the Tigers after bidding farewell to the New Orleans Saints. Naturally, this move has raised questions around the NCAA’s eligibility rules.

LSU’s head coach Lane Kiffin has also found himself under criticism for acquiring ex-NFL players. Even former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko slammed Kiffin for his decision. 

“I’m so cool off this bulls—,” Fehoko wrote on X. “I want LSU to win but this ain’t the way. I’m really all the way cool off this s—. I got not respect for Lane and this staff doing it this way. I don’t care if the “rules” allow it. Integrity/amateurism all gotta count for something bro.”

After graduating from Ole Miss, Harris signed with the Saints as an undrafted rookie. However, a series of recent court injunctions against the NCAA’s rigid five-year eligibility rules granted a fifth season of college competition to players whose eligibility had technically expired. A restraining order allowed players who had already signed with the NFL to return to college. 

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But Harris and Kiffin don’t really have a smooth relationship. According to On3’s Chris Low, Harris said Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss to LSU felt “like a slap in the face and then a backhand.” He took that personally and slammed the coach for ‘stealing the team’s shine.’ 

Despite the pushback from alumni, Kiffin remains unapologetic. From LSU’s perspective, the court’s ruling opened the door for the colleges to acquire NFL-caliber talent. According to Kiffin, refusing to recruit available players would simply put LSU at a competitive disadvantage against rival SEC programs willing to play by the new legal landscape. 

“We have made a decision to recruit some kids around the country, and through these multiple injunctions around the country, which, this is not a first time in college sports, players were granted a fifth year of eligibility in multiple sports,” Kiffin weighed in on the decision to acquire Wright and other Class of 2022 players. “And through them winning their injunction and entry into the portal, they’re available to recruit. So ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them. 

“At the end of the day, because of these rulings, they’re either going to play for you or they’re going to play somewhere else around the country. We made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are.” 

For the first time in history, players are returning to college football for one more year after entering the NFL rosters. And regardless of the criticism, Kiffin remains determined to take advantage of the legal system.