{"id":867403,"date":"2026-08-25T03:16:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T03:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/867403\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T03:16:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T03:16:16","slug":"lane-kiffin-justifies-recruiting-his-former-players-to-lsu-after-nfl-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/867403\/","title":{"rendered":"Lane Kiffin justifies recruiting his former players to LSU after NFL cut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lane Kiffin is defending his recruitment of ex-Ole Miss players to come to LSU following their release from NFL rosters, with the latest being former Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Harris is the latest player in a laundry list of athletes<\/a> whose eligibility was restored for a fifth season after a recent court ruling by a Louisiana judge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kiffin has taken advantage of the decision by recruiting Harris, Dae\u2019Quan Wright and other high school Class of 2022 players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"LSULSU head coach Lane Kiffin fields questions after an NCAA college football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. Michael Johnson\/The Advocate via AP<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have, you know, made a decision to recruit some kids around the country, and through these multiple injunctions around the country, which, this is not a first time in college sports, players were granted a fifth year of eligibility in multiple sports,\u201d Kiffin told reporters on Monday. \u201cAnd through them winning their injunction and entry into the portal, they\u2019re available to recruit. So ourselves, like many places around the country, are recruiting them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, because of these rulings, they\u2019re either going to play for you or they\u2019re going to play somewhere else around the country. We made a decision to recruit them, like probably most people are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ZxavianZxavian Harris #51 of the Ole Miss Rebels rushes during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Miami. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Harris\u2019 commitment to LSU is certainly an interesting one, not just because of the court case that is playing out between many student-athletes and the NCAA, but the former Ole Miss player had some strong words for Kiffin after the coach\u2019s abrupt departure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before the College Football Playoff, he called Kiffin\u2019s exit a \u201cslap in the face and then a backhand<\/a>,\u201d and in The Athletic<\/a>, he criticized him even more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lane Kiffin defends decision of LSU to recruit Dae’Quan Wright, others with NFL ties<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day..because of these rulings, they\u2019re either going to play for you or they\u2019re going to play somewhere else around the country. We made the decision to recruit them\u201d pic.twitter.com\/17gdkGJEmm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace) August 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Kiffin was there, he was telling us like almost every day, don\u2019t believe the rumors,\u201d Harris said to the outlet. \u201cLike, he\u2019s not gonna leave, to keep us focused. But by the time it came, everybody was starstruck. He told us not to believe the rumors. We should have believed it, and he just left out of nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

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