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College sports continues to go through a new frontier, and another first occurred over the weekend.
Dae'Quan Wright, a former Virginia Tech and Ole Miss tight end, had spent the summer as an undrafted free agent in Cleveland Browns training camp. However, Wright had his eye on returning to college along the way, and that hope has seemingly become a reality.
Wright is now set to transfer to LSU from Ole Miss and join the Tigers this year for a fifth college season. Never before has a player returned to college after actually entering the NFL, but Wright got that benefit after he was on the right side of a lawsuit.
Who is Dae'Quan Wright?
Wright is a tight end who began his college career at Virginia Tech in 2022 and 2023 but transferred to Ole Miss for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. After going through the NFL Draft process, becoming an undrafted free agent and signing with the Eagles first and then the Browns, Wright is now able to return to college and play for LSU.
Wright is one of a handful of players who were granted another year of eligibility after filing a lawsuit in Louisiana. The ruling granted those players an extra year after they weren't initially eligible for that under the NCAA's new rule that gives Division I athletes five years of eligibility.
While Wright appeared in training camp for the Browns, he did not appear in either of the team's first two preseason games. Had Wright made the Browns roster, he wouldn't have been eligible to play in college again, but Cleveland decided to cut him from its roster.
TE Dae'Quan Wright is among a group of 16 athletes who were just granted a temporary restraining order to return to college for one more season.
According to the report, "Players currently on NFL rosters have expressed an interest in being released from their NFL contracts…and… pic.twitter.com/1apsquqx4U
Once the Browns waived him, and assuming he clears waivers, he will be eligible to return to college for the 2026 season. Wright is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, who explained the tight end's situation on The Pat McAfee Show last week.
"Dae'Quan Wright went undrafted and he's currently on the Cleveland Browns..
He was part of a group of players that filed a lawsuit in Louisiana where they got a temporary restraining order..
Should he be released by the Browns he now has the opportunity to play college… pic.twitter.com/h6lM4Jff39
Wright now reunites with head coach Lane Kiffin, the same head coach who recruited him to Ole Miss in 2024. Presumably, the tight end will play for LSU this year then try to re-enter the NFL draft next year, but the league will have to agree to that in 2027.
Dae'Quan Wright stats
| Year | School | Games | Catches | Receiving yards | Yards per catch | Touchdowns |
| 2022 | Virginia Tech | 7 | 19 | 208 | 10.9 | 0 |
| 2023 | Virginia Tech | 12 | 28 | 366 | 13.1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Ole Miss | 13 | 27 | 394 | 14.6 | 4 |
| 2025 | Ole Miss | 15 | 39 | 635 | 16.3 | 5 |
In four collegiate seasons, Wright had been a durable tight end who played in 47 games and produced 1,603 receiving yards overall. He was the fourth-leading receiver for the Rebels in the 2025 season, including most among the tight ends on the team.
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