LSU Football Transfer Portal Update: Who's In? Who's Out? What's Next?
LSU has been extremely active in the transfer portal this offseason. Adding 12 players to fill positions of need while 18 members of the program announced their departure from Baton Rouge, there’s been significant change to this roster.
Now with the second NCAA Transfer Portal window open, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are taking a different approach. During the first window, this program was in search of immediate impact players, but this time around they’ll be looking to add depth.
There are a few position groups in need of extra bodies, specifically at offensive line, linebacker and safety, making this second window a time for LSU to gain depth in a few areas.
“I don't think you can go out there swinging for a starter that's going to come in and change the trajectory of your starting lineup,” Kelly said during spring camp. “These are guys that can contribute and be part of your depth. I think that's kind of what we're looking at.”
A look into a few position groups that could look to utilize the transfer portal and a dive into the roster overhaul this offseason:
Offensive Line
The Tigers have been working with six scholarship linemen during spring camp this time around, and after losing players of their own to the transfer portal, the next few weeks could see this program add a few of their own.
LSU returns Will Campbell, Garrett Dellinger, Miles Frazier and Emery Jones as starters, but with Charles Turner and Marlon Martinez also in the mix, they have their fair share of experienced players to take on starting duties.
Factor in five-star Zalance Heard and Maryland transfer Mason Lunsford coming in this summer and it gives this group a handful of players who can make an impact, but Kelly could look to bring in some veterans to help lead this group.
“I would say that we're guarded at this period of time as to somebody that's going to make a difference in an LSU football lineup,” Kelly said. “These are probably going to be guys that can add depth to what you're doing.”
Linebacker
Aside from Harold Perkins, Omar Speights and Greg Penn, who look to be your Day 1 starters, LSU only has three more scholarship linebackers in Whit Weeks, West Weeks and Christian Braitwaite, a three-star freshman coming in this summer.
The talent in this room is eye-opening, but from a depth perspective, we could see the Tigers look to reel in another experienced guy like they did with Speights.
“We've gone from a position where we were concerned to a position where we feel strong,” Kelly said.
Safety
LSU has elite-level talent in their secondary, but injury concerns could be something this coaching staff monitors. We saw both Greg Brooks Jr. and Major Burns suffer injuries during camp, which left the Tigers in a position to give their youngsters more snaps.
Come this season, this coaching staff may not feel as comfortable putting a younger player on the field during SEC play if an injury were to occur. During this time of the year, it’s nice to give your younger players reps to steadily improve, but in an in-game situation things could be different.
The Tigers could certainly look to the portal to add another safety for depth in this area. Despite talent not being an issue, and incoming freshmen who are more than capable of filling in, this staff could add an experienced safety for depth.
The Roster Overhaul
Here’s a list of who the Tigers brought in and a dive into who’s departed the program:
The Additions
CB Darian “Duce” Chestnut - Sophomore - Syracuse
CB JK Johnson - Sophomore - Ohio State
CB Zy Alexander – Junior – Southeastern Louisiana
CB Denver Harris – Sophomore – Texas A&M
WR Aaron Anderson – Redshirt Freshman – Alabama
OL Mason Lunsford - Junior - Maryland
LB Omar Speights - Senior - Oregon State
DE Ovie Oghoufo - Senior - Texas
EDGE Bradyn Swinson – Junior – Oregon
DL Paris Shand – Junior – Arizona
DT Jalen Lee – Junior – Florida
DT Jordan Jefferson – Senior – West Virginia
Aaron Anderson, the singular player this program has brought in on offense, provides the Tigers with a player who can add a different dimension to this squad. With the departure of Kayshon Boutte and Jaray Jenkins, this receiving corps needed a boost. Insert Anderson. Along with his contributions on offense, Anderson will be a huge piece to special teams. A gifted return specialist, the New Orleans native looks to fill that role almost instantly.
The Departures
Walker Howard - Quarterback - Transferring to Ole Miss
DeMario Tolan - Linebacker - Transferring to Auburn
Jack Bech - Wide Receiver - Transferring to TCU
Cam Wire - Offensive Lineman - Transferring to Tulane
Kole Taylor - Tight End - Transferring to West Virginia
Marcus Dumervil - Offensive Line - Transferring to Maryland
Xavier Hill - Offensive Line - Transferring to Memphis
Raydarious Jones - Cornerback - Transferring to Mississippi State
Kolbe Fields - Linebacker - Transferring to Louisiana Tech
Derrick Davis Jr. - Safety/Running Back - Transferring to Pittsburgh
Jaelyn Davis-Robinson - Cornerback - Transferring to SMU
Damarius McGhee - Cornerback - Transferring to Kansas
Antoine Sampah - Linebacker - Transferring to Campbell
Philip Webb - EDGE - Transferring to Jackson State
Zavier Carter - Defensive Line - Transferring to UNLV
Desmond Little - EDGE - Transferring to UAB
Kardell Thomas - Offensive Line - Transferring to Florida A&M
Michael Daugherty - Remains in Portal
The second transfer portal window officially opened up on Saturday, April 15 and is scheduled to close again on Sunday, April 30.
