LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is defending his decision to recruit former Ole Miss players, including defensive lineman Zxavian Harris and Dae’Quan Wright, to join the LSU program. These players are reportedly being recruited after being released from NFL rosters and having their eligibility restored for a fifth season due to a recent Louisiana court ruling.
Kiffin stated that the recent legal injunctions, which have allowed players to regain a fifth year of eligibility, make these athletes available for recruitment. He indicated that LSU, like many other college programs across the country, is taking advantage of this situation. "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," Kiffin told reporters. "We made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are."
The commitment of Harris to LSU is notable, given his previous strong criticism of Kiffin. After Kiffin's abrupt departure from Ole Miss, Harris called the move a "slap in the face and then a backhand." He also stated to The Athletic that Kiffin had advised players not to believe rumors about his departure, only to leave unexpectedly.
Harris's comments suggested he and other players felt misled by Kiffin's assurances. "When Kiffin was there, he was telling us like almost every day, don’t believe the rumors," Harris said. "Like, he’s not gonna leave, to keep us focused. But by the time it came, everybody was starstruck. He told us not to believe the rumors. We should have believed it, and he just left out of nowhere."
| An image collage showing Dae'Quan Wright and LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.
| LSU head coach Lane Kiffin fields questions at a press conference.
| Zxavian Harris #51 of the Ole Miss Rebels rushes during a game.