Transfer Portal Primer: Where Does LSU Football Stand During The Second Window?

The spring portal window is officially open with moves being made behind the scenes. Where do the Tigers stand?

The NCAA's Spring Transfer Portal window opened on April 16th and will remain open until April 30th with the LSU Tigers set to be active during the 14-day stretch.

Brian Kelly and Co. were active during the first window in the winter with this program set to put all hands on deck to add defensive linemen over the next two weeks.

Now, the fun begins with LSU looking to both get under the scholarship count while bolstering depth to the defensive line.

The Tigers currently sit with 87 scholarship players on roster and must get to 85 or below by the fall. During the next few weeks, it's clear this program will have roster reconstruction made.

The Transfer Portal Tracker:

The December-January Window

LSU saw 14 players enter the NCAA Transfer Portal following the 2023 season with several coming on offense, but the Tigers are solely focused on adding players on defense this time around.

The Offensive Entries: Running back Armoni Goodwin (UAB), running back  Logan Diggs (Ole Miss), running back Tre Bradford (North Texas), wide receiver Jalen Brown  (Florida State), tight end Jackson McGohan (Wisconsin), offensive lineman Marlon Martinez (Mississippi State) and offensive lineman Lance Heard (Tennessee).

The Defensive Entries: Defensive tackle Bryce Langston (FAU), defensive tackle Tygee Hill (Oregon State), defensive tackle Fitzgerald West (Louisiana), defensive end Quency Wiggins (Colorado) cornerback Laterrance Welch (Arizona State), cornerback Duce Chestnut (Syracuse) and cornerback Denver Harris (UTSA).

The Additions: Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann, Liberty wide receiver CJ Daniels, Mississippi State wide receiver Zavion Thomas, Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert, Auburn safety Austin Ausberry and Ohio State cornerback Jyaire Brown.

The Current Window (April 16 - April 30)

LSU lost EDGE Jaxon Howard to the NCAA Transfer Portal with his name officially being entered on Tuesday morning.

Howard, a former four-star recruit and the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota for the 2023 cycle, will depart Baton Rouge after one season with the program.

The coveted recruit played in five games as a freshman and showed flashes in LSU's spring game last year with four tackles and a sack. During his lone season down South, he tallied two tackles and one quarterback hurry in 2023.

Brian Kelly's thoughts on the defensive line moving forward:

“We can move (defensive ends) Bradyn Swinson inside and Paris Shand inside, then Da’Shawn Womack on the edge and (linebacker) Harold Perkins on the edge. You have a different configuration. I think we can be really dynamic with some of the defensive linemen and moving the pieces around. On first and second down, we really have to work hard at getting after the quarterback. But in terms of stopping the run, Jacobian Guillory has been outstanding. In terms of what Bo Davis is looking for, he’s been outstanding and been a stalwart. We have to find that other guy. That’s what we are looking for. We are trying to develop that second guy and have some depth pieces behind them.”

With Howard out, LSU has already brought in one player: Wisconsin DL Gio Paez. The veteran interior defensive lineman is set to come in and provide depth for the program after four years with the Badgers.

LSU is set to lose over a handful of players via the NCAA Transfer Portal over the next few weeks.

The Plan: Defensive Tackle Additions

Brian Kelly stated during spring football that this program will only target defensive linemen via the portal during this window. That means LSU is almost certain they will get redshirt freshman running back Trey Holly back after missing the offseason to this point due to off the field issues.

Many believed it was imperative the Tigers added a running back after only rolling with two scholarship backs during spring football, but now with the intentions of getting back Holly, it puts LSU in better position. Not to mention four-star Top 150 RB Caden Durham arriving in Baton Rouge this summer.

Now, the plan is clear: Attack the portal with force in order to bolster depth to the defensive line, and with one addition made already, the Tigers will look to bring in at least two more this offseason.

The NCAA Spring Transfer Portal Notes:

"Southeastern Conference rules call for athletes who transfer inside the league during the NCAA Spring Transfer Portal Window must sit a year before playing. Texas and Oklahoma will follow the rule this year since they join the conference in the fall.

The spring window runs for 14 days, but after a student-athlete is officially in the portal, there is no rush on making a decision as long as they are properly enrolled at a new institution in time for fall camp. Commitments do not have to be made during the two-week window. Graduate transfers, like Paez, are allowed to enter the portal at any time."

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.