LSU Football Poised for Boost From Lane Kiffin’s X-Factor Transfer Portal Addition

Kiffin and Co. inked multiple game-changers, X-factor defensive signing poised to make a difference.

Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos safety Ty Benefield (0) against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers put a bow on the program's No. 1 rated Transfer Portal Class on Friday night after adding Colorado Buffaloes offensive tackle Jordan Seaton.

Once Seaton signed with the Bayou Bengals, it brought the program's Transfer Portal haul to elite status with Kiffin and Co. adding the No. 1 transfer offensive lineman.

LSU signed nine Top-100 players in this year's Transfer Portal haul with a trio of prospects rated No. 1 at their positions, but there is an X-factor ready to make an immediate impact that may be flying under the radar.

Boise State safety Ty Benefield checks in as the No. 2 rated safety in the Transfer Portal with Kiffin and Co. boosting the secondary instantly after landing his services as one of the first signees.

The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder received interest from a myriad of schools once officially in the Transfer Portal with LSU beating out the likes of the Oregon Ducks throughout his process.

Benefield logged 105 total tackles, 69 total tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble across the 2025 season for his Broncos squad.

Courtesy of Ty Benefield's Instagram.

He stuffed the stat sheet routinely with the Broncos last season, but it's his versatility that will give the Bayou Bengals a boost in 2026.

Under defensive coordinator Blake Baker, Benefield can shine at the safety position, but the STAR role is where he can thrive.

Benefield is a big-bodied, physical defensive back that has the chance to explode in LSU's system across the 2026 season.

The Tigers will flaunt one of the top safety units in the Southeastern Conference this upcoming season with Benefield joining Ohio State transfer Faheem Delane as the newcomers via the free agent market - along with Tamarcus Cooley and Dashawn Spears returning from the 2025 roster.

Benefield has the opportunity to be an instant impact transfer for the LSU defense with the makings of being an X-factor across a rigorous SEC slate in 2026 for the Bayou Bengals.

#LSU has now landed nine Top-100 players in the Transfer Portal.

That includes:
- No. 1 QB Sam Leavitt
- No: 1 OL Jordan Seaton
- No. 1 EDGE Princewill Umanmielen
- No. 2 Safety Ty Benefield
- No. 3 IOL Devin Harper

Three Top-5 transfers signed.

No. 1 class in America. pic.twitter.com/kD83OhSZLe

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) January 24, 2026

LSU inked the No. 1 Transfer Portal Class with Benefield checking in as one of the nine Top-100 signees.

The Top-100 Signees:
- No. 1: QB Sam Leavitt
- No. 4: OL Jordan Seaton
- No. 5: EDGE Princewill Umanmielen
- No. 21: QB Husan Longstreet
- No. 40: S Ty Benefield
- No. 55: WR Eugene Wilson
- No. 59: EDGE Jordan Ross
- No. 79: IOL Devin Harper
- No. 95: WR Jayce Brown

More LSU News:

Nick Saban Names LSU No. 1 Coaching Job in College Football Amid Lane Kiffin Move

Lane Kiffin Pulls Off Historic Feat in Landing Commitment From Princewill Umanmielen

One Underrated Transfer in LSU Football's No. 1 Ranked Portal Class Under Lane Kiffin

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