College football · Boston College Eagles · Mon, Aug 24, 10:46 AM ET
New rule lets 2022 college starters seek NFL camp return
Cleveland Browns tight end Dae'Quan Wright was waived so he can attempt to return to college football, with an agreement in place to play for LSU if he clears waivers. Wright is currently in the NCAA transfer portal after a Louisiana judge granted him a temporary restraining order allowing him to seek a fifth year of eligibility.
Wright began his college career in 2022 and played four seasons before turning pro, going undrafted in April and signing with the Philadelphia Eagles before being claimed on waivers by the Browns on Aug. 11. The NCAA changed its eligibility rules in June to allow athletes five seasons within a five-year timespan, but the reform did not grandfather in players from the 2022 class like Wright, prompting a wave of lawsuits from athletes denied a fifth year.
Wright was the fourth-leading receiver among all FBS tight ends last season at Ole Miss, catching 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns, including a go-ahead score in the Rebels' College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Miami. He dressed for the Browns' preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday but did not play, and was invited to the NFL combine but was still recovering from a shoulder injury during the pre-draft process.
Wright's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on 'The Pat McAfee Show' that Wright could be the first player to go through an NFL combine and training camp before returning to play collegiately, and called it likely to happen. Wright is looking to reunite with coach Lane Kiffin, who recruited him at Ole Miss and is now at LSU. Browns coach Todd Monken said Kiffin had reached out to him a week earlier and joked he wished he had called back.
Rosenhaus has suggested Wright could return to the NFL draft next spring. The SEC's intraconference transfer rule, which only permits SEC players to transfer to other SEC schools during the January portal window, could also affect the situation, with commissioner Greg Sankey having sent a memo to member schools this month reminding them the rule remains in effect.
Several other NFL training camp players are also exploring returns to college. Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, a 25-game starter at Ole Miss, was waived by the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 8 and is in the transfer portal. Former SMU and UCLA running back TJ Harden, who rushed for 2,445 yards and scored 24 touchdowns over four seasons, was cut by the Seattle Seahawks after playing in their preseason opener and is also being pursued via the portal.
Written from ESPN's report. Their story has the full detail.
