Big Ten ruling unanimously approved clears path for Browns’ waived tight end, Saints lineman to return to college as fifth-years

The Big Ten has unanimously approved a ruling that, according to Yahoo Sports’ reporting, is expected to allow a small wave of players to return to college football after stints in the NFL. The first names tied to that process include Cleveland Browns tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who was waived Monday, and New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, who is also planning to sign on to the college game again as a fifth-year player.

Wright’s situation is notable for how quickly the professional side and the NCAA side are intersecting. After being officially waived by the Browns, he is described as planning to use the Big Ten’s approved framework to return to college football as a fifth-year, a timeline that suggests he is treating the NFL stop as an opportunity that can still feed his long-term college career.

The appeal of the fifth-year route is that it preserves continuity for a player who wants additional development time and collegiate playing opportunities rather than closing the chapter after an NFL roster chance. In Wright’s case, the waiver action is a clear procedural marker, even if the day-to-day details of how his eligibility will be administered through the school and conference are not fully described in the reporting.

Harris, the Saints defensive lineman, is being presented as another early adopter of the same broader idea: a college-return plan following a pro engagement. Like Wright, Harris is described as pioneering the trend and planning to sign with the next stop in college football as a fifth-year. The parallel between the two players is the central point of the story, because it points to an emerging pattern rather than a one-off exception.

The Big Ten’s unanimous approval matters because conference rules shape what “can” happen across the league’s member schools, including how quickly schools can bring back experienced players and what those players can bring to the field. For teams, a fifth-year addition can affect positional depth, practice quality, and on-field experience, especially in roles where veteran instincts and refinement matter late in games.

For now, the most important watch item is administrative rather than on-field. The Big Ten’s ruling may clear the way in principle, but each player’s path still depends on how the waiver, eligibility reinstatement, and enrollment or registration mechanics are completed through their college program. That means fans can expect more similar headlines as the “wave” expands, but the timing and final landing spots may vary from player to player.