NFL rules former Ole Miss star, LSU target Zxavian Harris now eligible to join league as free agent

The protective deal with’s go back to the field might be coming quickly, however fellow Da’Quan Wright is still waiting on news on any modifications to his eligibility

Oct 13, 2026

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The NFL Management Council has actually ruled that previous Ole Miss defensive take on and NFL novice Zxavian Harris is a qualified totally free representative and able to exercise or sign with a franchise of his picking, according to a current memo acquired by Front Office Sports

He was formerly ruled disqualified to sign up with an NFL group in September, however the league reversed that choice after Harris contested its claim that he played college football this season. Considering that Harris never ever practiced at LSU, his designated school after being approved an initial eligibility injunction, the NFL has actually designated him as a totally free representative. He is complimentary to sign up with any group on its active lineup or practice team.

This follows more than 2 lots professional athletes who had actually signed expert agreements tried to go back to college after the NCAA’s “five for five” ruling this summertime

LSU coach Lane Kiffin remained in pursuit of numerous gamers, consisting of Harris, Ole Miss tight end Da’Quan Wright and previous LSU edge rush Jack Pyburn, who’s now on a three-year novice handle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after starring in the preseason.

LSU was anticipated to include Harris, a previous Ole Miss standout, in August after a short preseason stint with the New Orleans Saints following the Louisiana court judgment. The judgment enabled professional athletes from the Class of 2022 to get short-term limiting orders to acquire a 5th year of eligibility.

LSU chose not to include Harris and Wright to its lineup in September after the SEC threatened to kick the Tigers out of the conferenceAt the time, CBS Sports reported that the SEC was weighing possible loss of video games, a legal obstacle in federal court and even possible expulsion if LSU didn’t pull back.

At the time, expulsion was thought about “extremely, extremely unlikely,” It spoke to “the level of frustration within the conference that it had even been uttered.” The SEC later on submitted a federal claim versus head coach Lane Kiffin, athletic director Verge Ausberry, the university and others related to it.

Harris remained in training school with the Saints after going undrafted in 2026. A four-star hire in the 2022 finalizing class, Harris actually broke out as a senior last fall. He was an essential cog in the Rebels’defense– creating chaos in the middle of the line to the tune of 58 takes on, 9 takes on for loss and 3 sacks. That sufficed to get Harris welcomed to the NFL Hunting Combine in Indianapolis.

Status of previous Ole Miss TE Da’Quan Wright

Per The Ringer’s Tom PelisseroWright is not qualified yet under NFL guidelines. He apparently exercised for the Green Bay Packers previously this monthprior to the league’s memo.

Drew Rosenhaus, Wright’s representative, informed ESPN last month that his customer was waiting to speak with the NFL

“When he left the (Cleveland) Browns, there was no doubt he’d be able to play at LSU,” Rosenhaus stated on The Pat McAfee Show “We were very careful during the interim period where LSU was getting heat from the SEC not to sign with LSU at that point. We did not want to lose his eligibility to go back to the NFL. He did not sign with LSU while all this stuff was up in the air, but the league is still trying to decide if they’re going to let him try out or join a team. 

“We believed we ‘d have the ability to, however it’s up in the air. I’m rooting for the boy. He simply wishes to play football.”

At the time, Rosenhaus said multiple  NFL groups Were interested in Wright’s services, however the league had not cleared him for an NFL return. That’s evidenced by Wright’s exercise with the Packers last month