LSU has locked its football roster at the NCAA-mandated 105-player limit by adding sophomore cornerback Aidan Anding and redshirt defensive end Gabriel Reliford, effectively ending any possibility of former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris joining the squad this season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The roster finalization settles a key question surrounding the program as LSU navigates an escalating legal dispute with the Southeastern Conference over player eligibility.
Roster Finalization Closes Door on Former NFL Players
That deliberate move kept open the possibility that Wright and Harris could join Lane Kiffin’s squad later in the season if their legal battles progressed favorably. By filling those final two openings with Anding and Reliford, LSU has locked its roster for the remainder of the year, according to WAFB.
The closed roster directly impacts the path of Wright and Harris. Both players previously suited up for Kiffin at Ole Miss before entering the NFL as undrafted free agents following the 2025 season. Wright spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, while Harris signed with the New Orleans Saints before being waived. Following their releases, both players enrolled at LSU and joined a Louisiana lawsuit seeking another season of college eligibility, testifying during a Baton Rouge court hearing.
Legal Battle Between LSU and the SEC Escalates
The roster decisions developed against a backdrop of intense legal maneuvering between the university and the conference. A Louisiana district court judge, William Jorden, issued a preliminary injunction protecting schools from being punished by the NCAA or SEC for playing athletes involved in the eligibility lawsuit. However, the SEC responded aggressively.
According to WAFB, the SEC filed an amended federal lawsuit in an ongoing effort to challenge LSU’s push to roster former professional athletes. The conference argued in federal filings that LSU intentionally preserved roster spots to add professional players later, contending that such actions violate conference principles and demonstrate a lack of institutional control. A federal motions hearing on the SEC’s request was scheduled, while conference presidents and chancellors arranged meetings to consider LSU’s ongoing conference membership.
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