LSU Football's Transfer Portal Losses Reach New Heights As Lane Kiffin Retools Roster

Kiffin is putting his touch on the roster as portal departures stack up, roster spots opening amid roster reconstruction.

Courtesy of LSU Tigers Football.

The NCAA Transfer Portal will officially open for business later this week with Lane Kiffin and Co. gearing up for what will be a historic stretch for the LSU Tigers.

Kiffin and the Bayou Bengals are preparing to be big spenders in the free agent market with a primary focus on adding a franchise quarterback, depth in the trenches, and skill position players for the 2026 season.

Across the last 10 days, the LSU Tigers have seen a myriad of players opt to enter the Transfer Portal and depart Baton Rouge as Kiffin puts his touch on the roster - creating open spots for the free agent market.

But there has been no position group that has seen more players depart than along the offensive line after six Tigers revealed intentions to leave.

Now, LSU has seen a whopping 16 players announce plans to hit the portal with six of them coming up front as Kiffin eyes the opportunity to retool the entire unit.

A look into the offensive line departures and the 16 players that have announced they will be leaving to this point.

Courtesy of LSU Tigers Football.

The Offensive Line Departures [6]:

No. 1: OL Carius Curne

Curne intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season in Baton Rouge, he revealed via social media last week.

Curne, a five-star prospect in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle, signed with the Bayou Bengals as one of the highest-rated recruits in the most recent class.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder out of Arkansas emerged as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in America with offensive line coach Brad Davis inking the sought-after prospect.

No. 2: OL Coen Echols

Echols, a former four-star prospect out of Texas, signed with the LSU program as a top-five interior offensive lineman in the 2024 Recruiting Cycle.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder chose the Bayou Bengals over the likes of the Texas A&M Aggies, Auburn Tigers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Oregon Ducks, among other prestigious offers.

The redshirt-freshman interior offensive lineman started in seven games for the Tigers and played 583 snaps across the 2025 season as a key second-year player at the guard positions.

This fall, Echols compiled a 67.8 pass blocking grade and a 51.3 run blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

No. 3: OL DJ Chester

DJ Chester plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Baton Rouge, he revealed via social media on Friday.

Chester, a former four-star recruit out of Georgia, signed with the LSU program as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in America with the Bayou Bengals salivating at the potential he attained.

The 6-foot-5, 335-pounder ultimately earned significant playing time as a redshirt-freshman in 2024, but struggled mightily for the program in the trenches.

Across the 2025 season, Chester was utilized as a "sixth man" for Brad Davis as he played both left tackle and center - logging 291 snaps on the year in a reserve role for the Bayou Bengals.

In 2024, Chester started every game at center and played 925 snaps, but struggled throughout the year - especially in SEC competition.

Courtesy of Carius Curne's Instagram.

No. 4: OL Tyree Adams

Tigers offensive lineman Tyree Adams plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after spending three seasons in Baton Rouge, according to On3 Sports.

Adams, a four-star prospect out of Louisiana, signed with the LSU program as a member of the 2023 Recruiting Cycle alongside a myriad of high-profile Bayou State natives.

The former Top-250 prospect played in 17 career games with the LSU Tigers - including eight in each of the last two seasons. Across the 2025 season, he served as the starting left tackle for the program.

Adams also played 38 special teams snaps in 2024 as a redshirt freshman where he will now depart LSU in search of a new home for his final two seasons of eligibility.

No. 5: OL Paul Mubenga

Mubenga intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Baton Rouge, according to multiple reports.

Mubenga, a former three-star prospect out of Georgia, signed with the program in the 2023 Recruiting Cycle where he redshirted across his first season in the Bayou State.

From there, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound prospect started in 11 out of his 20 ganes played with the LSU Tigers after ultimately making the decision to enter the Transfer Portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Courtesy of LSU Tigers Football.

No. 6: OT Ory Williams

Williams, a three-star prospect out of high school, signed with the LSU Tigers in the 2024 Recruiting Cycle where the program beat out the likes of Texas A&M, Florida, and Oklahoma State for his services down the stretch.

The 6-foot-8, 335-pounder out of the Lone Star State redshirted in 2024 prior to taking meaningful snaps for a struggling offensive line this fall. He played in 12 games with two starts.

Now, Williams will hit the Transfer Portal with Lane Kiffin continuing to overhaul the entire unit after a challenging season in the trenches.

The Departures [16]: Transfer Portal Edition

- Kylan Billiot: Wide Receiver
- Jelani Watkins: Wide Receiver
- Ashton Stamps: Cornerback
- Ahmad Breaux: Defensive Lineman
- Wallace Foster IV: Cornerback
- Sydir Mitchell: Defensive Lineman
- Ju'Juan Johnson: Running Back
- Kaleb Jackson: Running Back
- Colin Hurley: Quarterback
- Carius Curne: Offensive Lineman
- Coen Echols: Offensive Lineman
- Javien Toviano: Safety
- DJ Chester - Offensive Lineman
- Austin Ausberry - Safety
- Paul Mubenga - Offensive Lineman
- Ory Williams - Offensive Lineman

More LSU News:

LSU Football Wide Receiver, Oklahoma Transfer Labeled 'Biggest Bust' in Portal

Lane Kiffin Pulls Off Historic Recruiting Feat Amid First Month With LSU Football

Lane Kiffin Reveals How Nick Saban, Pete Carroll Influenced Decision to LSU Football

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