Kellen Moore questions how Zxavian Harris moved from Saints to LSU, saying the process needs more “regulations”

LSU’s defensive front storyline for the early season has picked up an unexpected wrinkle, and Saints coach Kellen Moore is the one doing the math out loud. In a discussion reported by Yahoo Sports, Moore described the sequence of events involving defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, who was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie on May 1, then was waived on August 8. Moore said he is still trying to understand how Harris ended up playing for LSU after that timeline.

Moore’s reaction focused on the lack of clear constraints he believes exist in how players can move between the NFL and college rosters. “Hopefully there can be some leadership and some regulations developed,” Moore said, according to Yahoo Sports. The comment frames this as a policy question as much as a roster one, with Moore implying that the current system allows outcomes that feel unpredictable from a team-building standpoint.

The transaction timeline is the central fact pattern in the report. The Saints signed Harris as an undrafted rookie on May 1 and later waived him on August 8. Within that same general window, Harris is described as now playing for LSU, putting Moore in the position of reacting to a fast transition from one organization to a program in the college game.

For LSU, the presence of a defensive tackle with NFL-level experience can matter in practical ways, even if the details of his current status are not fully laid out in the report. A defensive tackle is often asked to anchor the middle, absorb double teams, and create movement for linebackers and edge rushers. When a program adds an interior piece with professional exposure, it can tighten depth and add a different look for an entire defensive scheme, particularly early when teams are still ironing out rotations.

For the Saints, the issue is less about whether Harris can contribute and more about the administrative and competitive implications of player movement. Moore’s remark suggests that decisions made at the NFL level, including when to sign and when to waive, can intersect quickly with college football’s roster intake. In other words, teams may feel the consequences of those decisions not only on the professional side but also on the college side, where a waived player can reappear in a high-visibility role.

Looking ahead, the bigger question for coaches and administrators is whether this kind of rapid transition becomes more common and, if so, whether league and NCAA-aligned frameworks evolve to reduce surprises. LSU’s defensive staff, meanwhile, will be judged on the field, where Harris’ ability to fit and perform will determine whether this becomes a minor footnote or a meaningful part of LSU’s defensive identity during the season. Moore’s comments indicate the conversation is already underway about whether the existing rules sufficiently account for modern roster churn.