Key facts
- Dae’Quan Wright waived by Cleveland Browns; agreed to play for LSU in 2025 if he clears waivers
- 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end recorded 113 receptions, 1,603 yards, 9 TDs across Virginia Tech and Ole Miss
- First player with recorded NFL stats to return to play college football
- Previously played two years at Virginia Tech before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024
- Will rejoin former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin at LSU
- Had signed NFL training camp deals with New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns
The move
The Cleveland Browns waived tight end Dae’Quan Wright on a plan for him to play college football at Louisiana State University if he clears waivers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Wright and his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln have agreed to terms for him to play for LSU in the 2025 season. This makes Wright the first player to have recorded statistics in the NFL and then return to play in college.
Wright’s background
Wright is a 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end who spent two years at Virginia Tech before transferring to Ole Miss in 2024. Across his college career, he recorded 113 receptions for 1,603 yards and nine touchdowns. He had signed NFL training camp deals with both the New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns before the Browns’ waiver decision.
The LSU connection
Wright will reunite with Lane Kiffin, his coach at Ole Miss, who took the LSU job before the end of last season. According to Sporting News, Wright’s move comes as many athletes test fifth-year transfer options across both football and basketball. Browns head coach Todd Monken called the situation “crazy,” noting that a player on the team’s active roster is now playing college football. NBC Sports reports that Wright likely has a significant NIL (name, image, likeness) offer in place that made the return to college attractive, and that he prefers to play this year for LSU rather than wait to pursue the NFL again next year.
What’s next for LSU
LSU opens its 2025 season against Clemson, with a marquee SEC matchup against Ole Miss scheduled for Week 3. Both games will air on ABC. Wright’s addition comes immediately before the season, giving the team a boost at tight end under offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.’s scheme—the same system LSU ran through its College Football Playoff run last season.
Sources
Featured photo: Tony Webster via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)