The NFL has reversed course and says former Mississippi defensive lineman Zxavian Harris is free to sign with teams this season, despite a failed attempt to return to college football and play for LSU.
In a memo obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, the league withdrew its Sept. 16 ruling that had made Harris ineligible to be signed during the 2026 season. The league said Harris did not participate in an official practice or game with LSU, which clears the way for an NFL team to sign him. The memo said the NFL interviewed Harris and sought independent verification of his activities after training camps opened, and it agreed with the NFL Players Association that "plays college football" means, at a minimum, participation in a practice or game for the applicable college team.
Harris and Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright both had NFL tryouts this summer after going undrafted. They then tried to join their former coach, Lane Kiffin, at LSU and sued for the right to regain their college eligibility. After the Southeastern Conference passed a rule barring pros from returning to college and a Louisiana court put that restriction on hold, LSU left both players off its roster when the season opened.
Wright was also barred from signing with an NFL team under the league's Sept. 16 decision, and his status appears unchanged. The memo addressed Harris's situation, leaving Wright's eligibility unresolved.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing