LSU surprisingly left two controversial players off the team roster for Saturday’s game against the Clemson Tigers, and coach Lane Kiffin offered an explanation as to why.
Tight end Dae’Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, both seeking an additional year of eligibility after spending time in NFL training camps, will not play Saturday. That is despite the fact that LSU won a preliminary injunction that would theoretically allow both players to play.
As Kiffin put it, however, the Tigers still had concerns over “the uncertainties of what could come” by allowing Wright and Harris to play.
“That wasn’t easy. As much as I feel for the players … at the same time, I’m the head coach at LSU and I had to make a decision for the big picture of LSU, with the uncertainties of what could come by adding them to the roster,” Kiffin said, via Chris Vannini of The Athletic.
In other words, even though both players could theoretically play, Kiffin did not want to risk consequences down the line. The SEC has made it abundantly clear that they do not want Wright and Harris to be eligible, and further legal action is inevitable. LSU does not want to be punished down the line until they are certain nothing bad will come of it later.
Admittedly, the players in question had barely practiced and were unlikely to play a big role in Saturday’s game either way. That made it even easier for LSU to hold them out.
