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LSU has added transfer Zxavian Harris
The LSU football team is adding former NFL players to the roster just days before the start of the 2026 season. Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris was the second late addition this week.
Harris had been prepping to begin his career as a pro. A temporary restraining order altered his plans. He is now able to return to college.
The move mirrors that of former and future teammate Dae’Quan Wright, who left the Browns to join the Tigers. Harris’s “transfer” comes after a brief stint with the Saints.
A recent Louisiana ruling opened the door for those former NFL players to return to the NCAA despite having signed pro contracts. Each will have one final year of competition.
While it offers a path to both playing time and NIL money, their additions also strip current LSU players of opportunities.
Zavian Harris is headed to LSU.
Harris spent four years in Oxford at Ole Miss. The defensive lineman racked up 123 tackles and 5.5 sacks across 52 games.
His senior season was his best as he posted career-highs in every major statistical category. Despite success in the SEC, he went undrafted after attending the combine. Harris later signed an NFL deal with the Saints as a free agent.
The lineman was waived on August 8th. He has not landed with another team. The Louisiana TRO will give him an opportunity to continue his football career in Baton Rouge.
Harris has familiarity with the coaching staff, having played for Lane Kiffin over the last four years. With that said, he did not appreciate the way his former head coach bailed on Ole Miss last postseason.
“Like a slap and the backhand. He was trying to be a troll. We’re going to troll him. We’ve got something for him.”
-Zxavian Harris on Lane Kiffin’s exit
The bridge has apparently been mended. Harris will play a fifth college season under Kiffin. He expects to enter the starting rotation upon arriving to campus. It adds depth for the Tigers’ defense, but it takes snaps away from current players that have worked all summer.
Deuce Geralds sends strong message.
Geralds is just a freshman, but he was slated to start the opener at defensive tackle. The former four-star talent has made an impact on the coaching staff. He will make his debut against Clemson in about 10 days, though there’s now a chance he might not crack the opening day lineup.
His job status has been jeopardized by Zxavian Harris’s addition.
Freshmen Deuce Geralds and Richard Anderson — both highly-touted players — were expected to factor heavily into that rotation. Talented as they may be, leaning on a freshmen in the trenches can be a gamble in the SEC.
-CBS Sports
Harris is a proven player. Geralds is not. It will factor into decision making when evaluating the depth chart.
Geralds and teammate Richard Anderson, who was also expected to log notable snaps, each posted the same message on social media after news broke. They are not running from competition. They are embracing it.
Instagram / Deuce Geralds
A screenshot of Deuce Geralds' Instagram story
The message is a positive one for Lane Kiffin. Players will not give up their starting roles without a fight. Harris’s addition is pushing Geralds to remain atop the depth chart.
He response offered a similar outlook to that of tight end Trey’Dez Green, who has also seen his starting spot threatened by an NFL “transfer.”
The late roster additions are controversial. They are also not illegal. Lane Kiffin is looking to improve his team, even at the risk of ruffling feathers inside the locker room.
At this point in time, there does not appear to be drama in the LSU building. The mindset is positive with the season right around the corner.