Lane Kiffin reveals players’ stance on LSU pursuing former NFL players after meeting the team leadership committee, and that internal feedback shifted the coach’s thinking. The players’ position matters because legal uncertainty over eligibility could decide whether any additions can play in the season opener
In answering questions about pursuing ex-NFL talent, Kiffin said he met with the players’ leadership committee and heard unanimous support, and the original coverage is documented by AOL.com. That backing arrives as a judge signed a show-cause order that could affect conference enforcement and the Tigers’ final roster decisions
Key Takeaways
- Lane Kiffin met with his players’ leadership committee and said their response was emphatic: if a former NFL player can help the team win, bring him.
- Tight end Dae’Quan Wright and former Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka have been practicing with LSU while their formal eligibility remains unresolved.
- A judge signed a show-cause order that could limit SEC and NCAA penalties if upheld, creating temporary legal cover for teams adding recently released pros.
- Kiffin said he initially struggled with the decision but will abide by SEC rules if a court reverses the temporary protections.
Lane Kiffin reveals players’ stance on LSU pursuing former NFL players
Kiffin described an uncomfortable internal debate before he sought direct input from team leaders. He said he “struggled” with the decision and wanted a clear read on how the locker room would react.
“Every one of them was emphatic about, ‘If they can help us win, bring ’em,'” Kiffin told reporters. That message helped him weigh roster cohesion against the on-field upside of integrating experienced professionals.
On the field, the import is immediate: Kiffin confirmed tight end Dae’Quan Wright has been practicing with LSU after his release by the Cleveland Browns, and that Junior Tuihalamaka has also taken part in team drills. The staff has engaged outreach to multiple recently released NFL players as they explore short-term upgrades ahead of the opener
Kiffin met player leaders on adding former pros
The meeting with the players’ leadership committee was Kiffin’s way of testing locker-room temperature and avoiding a top-down decision that could fracture chemistry. He wanted to know whether integrating veterans would be embraced as a path to immediate improvement or seen as disruptive.
His read was pragmatic: the leadership group prioritized winning and believed integrating veterans could raise the roster’s readiness for high-level competition. That perspective eased his internal debate over whether to pursue players who had recently been on NFL rosters
How the legal fight affects who can play
The larger question is whether conference and NCAA enforcement will allow additions to appear on an official roster. The available reporting notes a judge’s show-cause order that forces the SEC and NCAA to explain why enforcing new pro-athlete rules wouldn’t violate an earlier court decision.
If the judge upholds the temporary protections, conferences may be limited in their ability to punish schools that add former pros after those athletes sign with NFL teams. If the ruling is reversed, Kiffin has said he will not play an ineligible athlete and will follow SEC rules.
Timing sharpens the stakes because LSU’s final roster submission to the SEC is due the day before the Tigers open their season at home against Clemson. That deadline concentrates pressure on the program to resolve eligibility questions quickly
Roster timing and candidate player status
| Candidate | LSU involvement | Verified note |
|---|---|---|
| Dae’Quan Wright | Practicing with LSU | Recently released by the Cleveland Browns and currently on-field in team drills while eligibility is unsettled |
| Junior Tuihalamaka | Practicing with LSU | Former Notre Dame defensive end who has taken part in LSU practices amid the eligibility dispute |
| Zxavian Harris | Named among pursued players | Listed by Kiffin as one of the recently released NFL players LSU has pursued; formal roster status is unclear |
SEC roster timing and CFP path implications
From a roster-construction standpoint, the window between now and the roster deadline forces LSU to balance two risks: improving short-term competitiveness with experienced pros and exposing the program to conference discipline if protections fall away. That calculus matters most for the Clemson opener, where a single impactful addition could alter game-planning and depth charts.
On recruiting and perception, acting to add recent NFL veterans signals to prospects that LSU is committed to immediate contention and development for the next level. Conversely, if the conference ultimately enforces its rules, the program could face penalties or forced roster adjustments that ripple into depth and special teams planning.
ESPN reporting is referenced in original coverage as noting the judge’s show-cause order and the possible legal outcomes, and Kiffin has publicly said he will follow SEC rules if a court reverses the temporary protections. The balance between on-field gain and regulatory risk will be central as LSU finalizes its roster for the Clemson opener
