Dae'Quan Wright, a tight end who spent his most recent season with the Cleveland Browns, is set to join the LSU Tigers after the team secured a temporary restraining order that restores his college eligibility. The move comes after a standout year at Ole Miss, where he recorded 635 receiving yards on 41 catches, averaged 16.3 yards per catch and scored five touchdowns, ranking fourth nationally among tight ends in 2025.
Legal Clearance Clears the Path
The restraining order not only reinstates his fifth year of eligibility but also removes the NFL waiver obstacle that had threatened his return to college football. With the legal hurdle cleared, Wright can now focus on joining a Tigers program that has been thin at the tight‑end position.
Coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Jake Smith have expressed confidence that Wright’s blend of size, route‑running precision and blocking ability will immediately upgrade LSU’s offensive line play and create more balanced formations.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has reminded member schools that intraconference transfer rules remain in effect until the conference votes to waive them, a nuance that could influence the timeline of Wright’s eligibility and the broader landscape of college football transfers.
The situation mirrors a previous case involving Junior Tuihalamaka, who was added to the roster after a similar TRO was granted. That precedent illustrates the Tigers’ willingness to exploit the current loophole to shore up depth.
If Wright can line up alongside returning starter Green in a 12‑personnel set, the resulting duo could give LSU a more versatile and physically imposing tight‑end group, potentially boosting the team’s chances in the SEC race and its outlook for a College Football Playoff berth.
Beyond the offensive line, the addition of Wright may also affect recruiting narratives, signaling to prospective players that LSU is aggressively pursuing talent that can make an immediate impact.