Three former Ole Miss football players who signed with NFL teams are eligible to play college football in 2026.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright, defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and defensive back Wydett Williams are among the 16 college football players who were granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA on Aug. 19, according to a report from ESPN.
There are 30 athletes in total participating in the lawsuit file in Louisiana across multiple sports. Former South Carolina safety DQ Smith, LSU linebacker Jack Pyburn and Notre Dame defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka also joined the suit, per the report.
The lawsuit Wright, Harris and Williams are in goes further than Colorado judge Charlotte Sweeney's ruling in Wisne vs. NCAA that allowed some athletes who began playing in the 2022-23 academic year to play a fifth season.
In Wise, players who signed pro contracts were not eligible for a fifth year, and players were not allowed to transfer unless they were in the portal. In the Louisiana case, the restraining order obtained by the three Ole Miss players allows them to transfer.
Wright is in training camp with the Cleveland Browns. Williams is with the Arizona Cardinals. Harris was waived by the Saints on Aug. 8.
According to the report, the former Rebels would be able to utilize the restraining order join a college roster as long as they are waived by Sept. 1.
All three players were solid contributors for the Rebels in 2025.
Wright was the No. 1 tight end for Trinidad Chambliss. Wright caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Williams started 14 games at safety in 2025. He made 73 tackles and three interceptions. Harris started all 15 games as Ole Miss' defensive tackle in 2025. He had 58 tackles and three sacks
Ole Miss will open the season against Louisville on Sept. 6 (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) in a neutral site game in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Titans' Nissan Stadium.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 3 Ole Miss football players, including Dae'Quan Wright, get 2026 eligibility, per report
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