LSU locks football roster, ending NFL eligibility dispute

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LSU has reached the NCAA 105-player roster limit by adding cornerback Aiden Anding and defensive end Gabriel Reliford, effectively ending the possibility of former NFL players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris joining the team this season.

Both Anding and Reliford are returning to the roster following season-ending injuries sustained during spring practice. The decision to fill the final spots with these players rather than Wright and Harris follows an escalating legal dispute between LSU and the SEC. The SEC has filed an amended federal lawsuit that could potentially allow the conference to expel LSU if the program rosters players who have previously signed professional contracts.

While a Louisiana district court judge previously issued a preliminary injunction preventing the NCAA and SEC from punishing schools for playing athletes involved in the eligibility lawsuit, LSU opted to secure its roster with injured players to avoid the risk of expulsion from the conference. Wright and Harris, both former players under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, are reportedly exploring legal options to return to college football.