Former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright has committed to LSU for the 2026 season, following his release from the Cleveland Browns. His commitment, which comes after he cleared NFL waivers, is the latest instance of a player leveraging a landmark Louisiana court ruling to reshape his collegiate career.
The move was facilitated by a decision stemming from a lawsuit involving Wright and 16 other players, which enjoined the NCAA’s restitution and "ghost transfer" rules. This legal precedent allows players currently in NFL training camps to enter the transfer portal, marking the first time fifth-year seniors have sought to leave the professional ranks to return to college. Wright is the second player to join the Tigers under this ruling, following the commitment of former Notre Dame defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka on Friday.
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Wright brings significant collegiate experience to LSU. A second-team All-SEC selection last season, he recorded 39 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns at Ole Miss. Against LSU last season, he had four catches for 66 yards, including a first-down catch on fourth-and-3 to seal the game for a 24-19 win for the Rebels.
Across a four-year collegiate career spent at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, Wright has tallied 113 receptions for 1,603 yards and nine touchdowns.
The sudden transition left the Cleveland Browns organization caught off guard. Browns head coach Todd Monken addressed Wright's departure, noting that while Wright had been sidelined with a medical issue, his decision to enter the transfer portal caught the coaching staff by surprise.
"I don’t even know what to say. As far as I know, he’s had a medical issue that wasn’t allowing him to practice. That’s a medical issue," Monken said. "I wondered why LSU coach Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago, now I know. I didn’t call him back; I guess I should have."
On the field, Wright’s addition offers LSU significant tactical flexibility. He joins a receiving corps anchored by returning starter Trey’Dez Green. LSU plans to leverage Green’s versatility by lining him up as a tight end, out wide or in the slot to exploit defensive mismatches.
With Wright serving as a primary tight end, the Tigers' offense can effectively deploy multiple tight-end sets. This alignment is expected to maximize the contributions of both players, giving Green more freedom to function as a dynamic pass-catcher.
For a team like LSU, the acquisition is a rare opportunity to pair two All-Conference-caliber tight ends. While Wright will have to build chemistry with his new teammates on the offense, including Sam Leavitt, he knows the offense that Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis deploy, which made him a key component in their offense the last two seasons.
