LSU head coach Lane Kiffin told reporters Monday that his players are on board with adding former NFL rookies who received a fifth year of eligibility.
"Every one of them was emphatic about, 'If they can help us win, bring 'em,'" Kiffin said, referencing feedback he received from the players' leadership committee when he sought their input, according to ESPN's Heather Dinich.
"We understand we have a team that's practiced together and worked together all offseason, but one of them said, 'Hey, this is how it works at the next level, and this is how the real world works.' So that made me feel a little better in the struggle and being torn back and forth."
With LSU under the 105-player threshold before submitting its roster to the SEC on Friday, Kiffin added that no currently rostered athletes will have to be released to add players. He also noted that it's too early to predict if the former NFL rookies will be on the team.
LSU and the SEC are awaiting Thursday's hearing in a Louisiana courtroom, where a judge has ordered the SEC and NCAA to explain why their new penalties associated with former pro athletes don't violate a previous court ruling.
The judge can either keep the temporary restraining order in place, blocking SEC commissioner Greg Sankey from punishing schools that roster a player who previously signed with an NFL team, or lift it.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright has been practicing with LSU since being waived by the Cleveland Browns. The 23-year-old was among 16 players recently granted a temporary restraining order by a Louisiana judge, allowing them to exercise a fifth year of college eligibility.
Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka has also been practicing with the Tigers. He suffered an injury during NFL workouts and was ultimately not invited to any minicamps or signed to a contract.
"The SEC had a stance, made a rule," Kiffin said. "A judge felt that they couldn't do that to the players, so we'll be practicing, focused on Clemson, and spending our time on that all week, and they can figure out the rest, and we'll just wait for guidance."
LSU kicks off its 2026 season against Clemson on Saturday night.
