Wright became the NFL's first active player to enter college football's transfer portal last week
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Lane Kiffin's pursuit of ex-NFL TE Dae'Quan Wright is latest example of LSU coach not caring what you think
Wright became the NFL's first active player to enter college football's transfer portal last week
Lane Kiffin does not care about pearl-clutching from media members or fellow coaches. His job at LSU is to acquire talent, win football games and hunt championships, and his pursuit of Cleveland Browns tight end and former Ole Miss standout Dae'Quan Wright is another reminder that few coaches navigate college football's lawless landscape better.
Call him shameless.
Call him calculated.
Call him a filthy recruiter.
Kiffin will probably retweet the criticism and keep working.
Wright's decision to enter the transfer portal after reaching the NFL would have sounded absurd not long ago. Now, amid courtroom victories, temporary restraining orders and eligibility rulings that continue to erase the sport's old boundaries, it represents another opportunity.
Kiffin is not responsible for cleaning up the NCAA's mess. He is responsible for building LSU's roster, and if the rules — or a judge — allow him to pursue an NFL player, he likely sees it as negligent not to make the call.
That is the uncomfortable truth for Kiffin's critics. He is not breaking the system. He is reading it faster than everyone else.
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