The LSU Tigers and head coach Lane Kiffin have been moving forward with plans to bring several players onto their roster who have already signed professional contracts and spent time with NFL teams this preseason. While the team has received a lot of pushback from other teams and media members for the move, Kirk Herbstreit points out that they are technically following the rules.
As LSU prepares for the upcoming season, it has ignited a firestorm throughout the SEC after it began securing commitments from former NFL players. While those players are technically barred from joining the team by NCAA and SEC rules, a Louisiana court ruling has opened up the possibility of those players joining the LSU roster.
After a final ruling before the season approved a preliminary injunction that would allow the players to be on the roster, it looks like LSU will technically be able to play those players legally.
LSU Looks to Add Former Pro Players
LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin have continued their efforts to bring in at least three players who signed professional contracts this summer, including former Ole Miss players Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, who play tight end and defensive tackle, respectively.
Adding those players to the roster would run afoul of two separate league rules. The SEC prohibits players from entering the conference after signing a professional contract, while also restricting intraconference transfers outside of the designated portal window.
Still, a Baton Rouge judge has issued an order preventing both the NCAA and SEC from enforcing their restrictions related to eligibility, the transfer portal, and professional players returning to college football.
On Thursday, Judge William Jorden, out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ruled in favor of LSU by approving a preliminary injunction “that prohibits the NCAA and SEC from punishing any school” that fields ex-pros.
‘They’re following the rules’
During Friday’s episode of ESPN’s Get Up, Herbstreit pointed out that despite all of the arguments against LSU adding former professional players to its roster, they are technically following the rules.
“If you just look at LSU, they’re following the rules,” Herbstreit said via On3. “You know, the judge grants the injunction. Lane Kiffin’s going to say, ‘Hey, we’re just following the opportunity here. If we don’t do it, someone else is going to do it.’ So, I guess they’re following the rules.”
That said, Herbstreit notes that the optics obviously don’t look good.
“I think the optics of it, you know, around the rest of the SEC, probably around the rest of the country,” Herbstreit explained. “I don’t know if a lot of people are getting their arms around NFL guys that end up having an opportunity to come back to play college, but it is what it is for this one particular class.”
It’s worth noting that the SEC has already sued LSU in U.S. District Court in Alabama, per ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, and plans to appeal Jorden’s decision. The conference reportedly has considered the possibility of removing LSU from the conference entirely.
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