LSU Football: Who Can Step Up This Offseason?
LSU dominated the offseason after signing all 25 members of its high school recruiting class and reeling in 12 transfers via the portal, but who can make an impact this offseason as the Tigers transition to summer work?
Which youngsters have the chance to make an impact during their freshman campaign? The Tigers have a few 5-stars in their back pocket and players filling positions of need.
We saw Head Coach Brian Kelly rely on youngsters in 2022, but could it be the same in 2023?
We dove into a few players, both freshmen and transfers, who can step up this summer:
The Freshmen
Dashawn Womack - EDGE
Arguably the most important signee in LSU’s 2023 class, Womack has the chance to step in soon to help the Tigers' defensive line. With both Ali Gaye and BJ Ojulari entering the 2023 NFL Draft, the Tigers have a few spots to fill on the outside. Insert Womack.
LSU has made a few moves this offseason via the transfer portal to bring in veterans with Power Five experience, but Womack has all the intangibles to earn significant snaps this upcoming season if all goes accordingly during spring camp.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound menace flew up the recruiting rankings as his technique catches up to his physical tools. Putting it all together in his senior campaign, he was flat out dominant. With sheer size and tenacity paired with development in how he uses his twitchy hands, look for Womack to be that dude quickly for LSU.
Javien Toviano - Defensive Back
This is where it gets interesting. Toviano signed with LSU where many anticipated him to be a cornerback from the jump for this unit, but after the Tigers hit the transfer portal with force, signing four cornerbacks, it provides flexibility for Toviano.
A player who can thrive at nickel and safety as well as corner, we could see Toviano impact this LSU defense in a myriad of ways in year one. As gifted as they come both on and off the field, the early-enrollee could be in position to play in 2023.
At 6-foot, 180 pounds, Toviano continues to build up his body to compete at the next level, and after a four year stretch where he dominated the best of the best in Texas, look for his competitive nature to come out this spring and turn a few heads.
Ka’Morreum Pimpton - Tight End
Pimpton was a late addition to the 2023 class. Flipping from Vanderbilt to LSU during the Early Signing Period, the Tigers secured one of the nation’s top tight ends. As gifted as they come at a position of need for LSU, look for the Tigers to utilize his talents early.
Certainly LSU already has Mason Taylor as their tight end of the future, but Pimpton has the chance to make an impact rather quickly. One of the best receiving tight ends in the country, a one-two punch of Taylor and Pimpton looks to be lethal long term.
Pimpton is already built for the next level. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, he built his body up for the college game during his senior season of high school. After dominating his final season, he flew up the rankings and gained the national recognition he deserved. Pimpton has all the tools to be an immediate impact player for LSU in 2023 given his unteachable traits and receiving ability at the tight end position.
The Transfers
Denver Harris - Cornerback - Texas A&M Transfer
As a freshman in College Station, Harris totaled 10 tackles in five games played. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
A key piece to this recruiting cycle has been to retool the secondary and that is precisely what this coaching staff has done with their 2023 recruiting class and will do in the portal this month. Harris, the first addition, is a big piece moving forward.
Harris was suspended for the second half of the regular season for Texas A&M, but Head Coach Brian Kelly did his due diligence before extending an offer. After meetings between Harris and the coaching staff, it was clear this program believes in what Harris can offer both on and off the field.
The Bio: “Transfer cornerback from Texas A&M … One of the nation’s top cornerback prospects for the Class of 2022 … Former 5-star recruit from Northshore High School in Houston … Under Armour All-America as a senior in high school … Appeared in 5 games as a true freshman in 2022 … 14 tackles, 3 pass breakups for the Aggies in 2022 …. Had 4 tackles vs. Alabama and a pair of pass breakups vs. Mississippi State … Named to the Athletics’ mid-season Freshman All-America team in 2022.”
Zy Alexander - Cornerback - Southeastern Louisiana Transfer
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound cornerback out of Loreauville, La. has had a productive career to this point with the Lions, looking to carry his success to Baton Rouge:
2022 First Team All-Southland Conference
2021 Second Team FCS All-America (Stats Perform)
2021 Third Team FCS All-America (AP)
2021 First Team All-Southland Conference
2021 First Team All-Louisiana
The Bio: “Transfer from Southeastern Louisiana where he was a 3-year starter for the Lions … Helped the Lions to back-to-back appearances in the FCS Playoffs in 2021 and 2022 … Lions went 9-4 in both 2021 and 2022, falling in the second round of the FCS Playoffs each year … Twice named first team All-Southland Conference … Earned All-America honors in 2021 … Appeared in 31 games at Southeastern, registering 97 tackles, 12 pass breakups and 9 interceptions … Had 6 interceptions at Southeastern in 2021 and returned 2 interceptions for TDs in 2022 … Prepped at Loreauville High School where he was also a standout in baseball.”
Aaron Anderson - Wide Receiver/Return Specialist - Alabama
The Alabama transfer did not record any stats in his freshman campaign with the Crimson Tide after suffering an injury early in the season.
A former Edna Karr standout, Anderson was rated as a Top-50 prospect in the 2021 class. A Top-5 wide receiver in the country, the Louisiana legend took the nation by storm in his senior season.
Along with being a deep threat on offense, Anderson can be utilized as a return specialist, a position group LSU struggled with a season ago. As versatile as it gets, Kelly and this program add a big-time playmaker for the future.
The Bio: “One of the nation’s top prep wide receivers for the Class of 2022 … Native of New Orleans and prepped at Edna Karr High School … Spent one season at Alabama and redshirted after appearing in one game for the Crimson Tide in 2022 … 5-star wide receiver and rated as the No. 1 player in Louisiana for the Class of 2022 … Named the New Orleans Metro Offensive Player of the Year by the Times-Picayune in 2021 … Finished high school career with 20 returns for touchdowns and over 6,000 total yards … Returned 5 kickoffs for TDs as a senior in 2021 and added 74 receptions for 926 yards and 14 scores.”
Honorable Mentions:
OL Mason Lunsford - Maryland transfer
OL Zalance Heard - 2023 signee
CB JK Johnson - Ohio State transfer
Jaxon Howard - 2023 signee
DL Paris Shand - Arizona transfer
