Oregon's Dan Lanning Takes Firm Stance on NFL Players Returning to CFB amid New LSU Commit

It's safe to say Oregon head coach Dan Lanning isn't going to be studying NFL rosters for potential additions.

While ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that tight end Dae'Quan Wright will join LSU from the transfer portal if he clears waivers after the Cleveland Browns waived him, Lanning took a strong position against such a path back to college football.

"I think there are a lot of negatives that are involved around this," he told reporters. "One, once you go to the NFL, to me, you're in the NFL. You don't get the opportunity to come back. Two, most of us have built our rosters. You have a limited roster now.

"So if you've invited somebody back to your team, that means you're kicking somebody else off your team to match your roster limits. I don't think that's fair to players who worked all summer, all spring, and put themselves in position to be ready to work for a team."

As for Wright, Schefter noted he is "believed to be the first player who could play for an NFL team, and then go back to play in college."

The tight end went undrafted but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and then joined the Browns via waivers on Aug. 11. He has not appeared in either of Cleveland's two preseason games.

ESPN reported he was among those college athletes who filed a lawsuit when they, as 2022 high school graduates, were not included in the NCAA's new rule allowing five years of eligibility for Division I athletes.

That rule doesn't take effect until next season.

Wright was granted a temporary restraining order in Louisiana, which maintained his eligibility to return to college.

While the NCAA received a stay Friday from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals that reversed a ruling from a federal judge "that had opened the door for all athletes who started college in the 2022-23 academic year and played for four consecutive seasons to return for a fifth season," it did not apply for athletes who successfully petitioned for restraining orders in state courts.

That Wright would go to LSU is not surprising considering he played for Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss last season and helped lead the Rebels to the College Football Playoff.

As for Lanning, he has a CFP contender in Oregon even without the help of players who had already joined the NFL. The Ducks are No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 and open the season on Sept. 5 against Boise State.