Transfer Portal Targets: The LSU Cornerback Big Board 2.0

The LSU football staff added four cornerbacks via the NCAA Transfer Portal last offseason and once again find themselves in need of defensive backs ahead of next year.

Now, with "free agency" in full swing, targets are emerging for this program with the first window officially open.

Last offseason, the Tigers went out and added 15+ players through the Transfer Portal with four of them being at the cornerback position.

The hit rate was slim. Southeastern's Zy Alexander earned a starting role for the Tigers while former Ohio State corner JK Johnson's season ended before it started after suffering a lower-body injury.

The other pair of cornerbacks, Syracuse's Duce Chestnut and Texas A&M's Denver Harris, suited up in less than half of LSU's games after being unavailable for most of the year.

Now, Brian Kelly has his work cut out for him once again in the portal as he looks for immediate impact players.

Kelly addressed last year's struggles on defense:

"We weren't a close-knit group. They hadn't played together. We saw how they played earlier in the season and how they played later in the season. It's a red flag when you have to do that. We don't believe we have to do that. Will we have to take a player here or there at a position? Most likely.

"We are much more targeted and much more focused. It's much more (focused). We were taking literally numbers on defense to right the ship relative to our defensive structure last year. We won't have to do that. We are counting 10 of 11 players with the most snaps coming back next year. Some might say that's not such a great thing. We think it is, because we have experience."

A look into three defensive backs the Tigers are targeting as the NCAA Transfer Portal window opens:

The Defensive Back Big Board 2.0:

Jyaire Brown: Ohio State

Brown, a Louisiana native, entered the Transfer Portal with three years of eligibility remaining. The former four-star cornerback has received interest from several SEC programs with the Tigers certainly getting in the mix as well.

An official LSU offer hasn't been reported yet by Brown, but Kelly has harped on the importance of pursuing Louisiana natives in the portal with multiple years of eligibility.

For Brown, he checks both boxes. During his two seasons with Ohio State, he totaled nine tackles and three defended passes with the chance to take that next step with more playing time. Look for the former Top 250 prospect to become a hot commodity in the market with LSU entering the mix.

Decamerion Richardson: Mississippi State

Brian Kelly and the Tigers have shown their desire to reach out to Louisiana players in the Transfer Portal. On Wednesday, another Bayou State native entered the free agent market in Decamerion Richardson.

The Bossier City, Louisiana product spent four seasons in Starkville and will exercise his COVID year for the final season of eligibility.

LSU has already reached out to the Mississippi State native and the Tigers will certainly be a program in the mix for his services.

Richardson appeared in 45 games at Mississippi State, making 26 starts as one of the SEC West’s top cornerbacks. He tallied 177 tackles through four seasons with a sack, two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and 10 passes broken up.

Jardin Gilbert: Texas A&M

Former Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert is at the top of LSU's list and could be the first Transfer Portal prospect to pop for the Tigers. The Louisiana native officially entered the portal on Tuesday and the Bayou Bengals will begin getting to work.

Gilbert played his high school ball at University High, which is located on LSU's campus. A former four-star recruit, the coveted portal prospect spent three years at Texas A&M with several potential suitors reaching out.

Safety is clearly a position of need for Kelly's program with several players being targeted in the portal. With a lack of depth and experience, the Transfer Portal will be used to the Tigers' advantage.

Look for LSU to push for Gilbert over the next few days. A player that could reveal a decision sooner rather than later, the Tigers are heavily in the mix for his services.