Cleveland Browns rookie and former Ole Miss tight finish Dae’Quan Wright entered the transfer portal Thursday, changing into the primary energetic NFL participant to take action, sources told CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. A member of the Browns’ apply squad in coaching camp after going undrafted in April, Wright is certainly one of 16 gamers — with many extra anticipated — who plan to go again to college after a Louisiana choose granted a short lived restraining order centering across the NCAA’s five-year eligibility clock.
Never earlier than has an energetic NFL participant formally entered the portal till now.
Wright caught 113 passes for 1,603 yards throughout stops at Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, together with 1,029 yards throughout his remaining two seasons with the Rebels. He went undrafted after incomes second-team All-SEC honors at Ole Miss, signed with Philadelphia and was later claimed by Cleveland. His NFL alternative stays intact for the second, however the portal supplies leverage and a doubtlessly profitable different if he’s launched earlier than the season.
The subsequent section of potential eligibility chaos stems from a Colorado court docket ruling earlier this summer season. Previously, members of the 2022 recruiting class who returned to college football and took benefit of the additional 12 months of eligibility granted by District Judge Charlotte Sweeney had been those that did not signal NFL contracts.
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Despite Sweeney clarifying on Aug. 2 that NCAA guidelines would nonetheless apply relating to gamers who’ve signed NFL contracts and are ineligible to return to college, groups have remained involved with totally different gamers a few potential return to high school, sources informed CBS Sports.
This Louisiana TRO has created a time-sensitive window for gamers who’re in NFL coaching camps or on the reduce bubble. NFL teams will trim their remaining rosters to 53 gamers on Aug. 30, which may create alternatives for launched gamers to play college football in the course of the 2026 season on a NIL or income share contract.
This is exactly the place the NCAA by no means wished eligibility litigation to go. Wright is now not merely difficult for one more collegiate season. He is actively exploring a return like dozens of others after signing a number of skilled contracts, becoming a member of two NFL organizations and collaborating in coaching camp.
College coaches can now recruit a participant at present employed by an NFL franchise. What as soon as sounded not possible is all of the sudden one other August roster-management resolution.
Other gamers following swimsuit
Former Seahawks and SMU operating again TJ Harden is among the many group of gamers who had been a part of the Louisiana lawsuit and has entered the portal after speeding for two,445 yards and 21 touchdowns in his college profession.
Former Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding has filed a lawsuit in Illinois towards the NCAA searching for the flexibility to transfer and use his fifth season of eligibility, his illustration informed CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer on Thursday. A former All-Big Ten participant on particular groups, Fielding made 16 of 20 discipline purpose tries in the course of the 2025 season.
Former LSU edge Jack Pyburn, who had two sacks throughout a preseason sport with the Buccaneers just lately, former Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, ex-South Carolina security and four-year starter DQ Smith are additionally included within the group anticipated to enter the transfer portal.