LSU continues to add to its roster ahead of its season-opener against Clemson in less than two weeks.
The Bayou Bengals have now acquired a second former NFL player, as DL Zxavian Harris has committed to Lane Kiffin’s program. Harris would mark the third player LSU has added over the past few days, and the second who spent time on an NFL roster this summer.
After not being taken in the 2026 draft, Harris signed with New Orleans, but he was cut early in camp.
Harris started all 15 games at Ole Miss last season and at 6-foot-8, 335-pounds, he adds some serious size to the interior of the LSU defensive line. Last year, Harris recorded 58 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, a blocked kick, an interception and four passes defended.
Harris was one of 16 players who were granted an extra season of eligibility in a Louisiana court last week.
“We have you know 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 said Monday. “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.”
In an ironic twist of fate, Harris was extremely critical of Kiffin after the head coach left Ole Miss for the head coaching job at LSU in the midst of a College Football Playoff appearance. Harris called it a “slap in the face.”
“We got something for him,” Harris also said. “He was just trying to steal our shine. That’s all he tried to do. That’s all he’s been trying to do.”
LSU has also taken a commitment from former Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, also formerly of Ole Miss.
Wright participated in warmups ahead of the Browns preseason game over the weekend, but did not take a snap in the contest. The tight end is also one of the 16 players in Louisiana that filed lawsuits against the NCAA to gain additional eligibility.
Wright went undrafted in April, but signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on May 1. He was released by the Eagles on Aug. 10 and picked up on waivers by Cleveland the next day. Now he waits to see if he will clear waivers.
Whether or not either player actually suits up for LSU remains to be seen, as the SEC has a rule in place that prohibits athletes from transferring within the conference when it is not their sports transfer portal window. Commissioner Greg Sankey recently sent out a memo to all member schools reminding them of the rule.
Photo courtesy of Bart Boatwright