Vanderbilt Lands Highly Touted LSU Transfer

The Commodores picked up arguably the most important piece of the transfer portal class thus far, adding a talented edge rusher from LSU.

Now former LSU EDGE CJ Jackson committed to Vanderbilt on January 9, 2026. | Credit @_cj.jackson_ on Instagram

Vanderbilt added possibly its most important piece of this year's transfer portal class yet by landing 3-Star EDGE CJ Jackson from LSU on Friday, January 9.

The former 4-Star prospect took to social media to confirm the news. He joins the Commodores as a redshirt sophomore with three more years of eligibility.

Committed!!!💯 pic.twitter.com/jntGVf1KhQ

— Christopher (CJ🎰) Jackson (@CJ_jackson21) January 10, 2026

Originally a member of the 2024 recruiting class, Jackson spent the last two seasons in Baton Rouge with the Tigers, seeing time in six games and recording three tackles, 2.0 TFL's and a half sack in his time on the field.

He hails from Tucker High School in Georgia where he was a highly touted prospect in 2024. As a senior he helped lead his team to a 6-5 record and berth in the state playoffs. Though his stats are only available for six of the games he participated in that season, Jackson's production was still rather impressive.

The then 4-Star prospect compiled 14 tackles, 6.0 TFL's and 11.0 sacks in those six games, and was also responsible for a forced fumble and subsequent recovery as well.

While Jackson was unable to find his way onto the field much throughout his time in Baton Rouge, he looks to be a potentially high impact type of player that could bring some elite pass rushing skills to the Commodores defense.

Vanderbilt has lost two members of its defensive front to the transfer portal this offseason, Linus Zunk and Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala, but Jackson looks as if he could step right in and be a productive defender in 2026.

Incoming Vanderbilt Transfers

1. EDGE CJ Jackson, 6-foot-3, 220 lbs. (Committed on 01/09/2026)
2. TE Maurice Veney, 6-foot-4, 270 lbs. (Committed on 11/25/2025)
3. TE Jayvontay Conner, 6-foot-4, 231 lbs. (Committed on 01/04/2026)
4. OL Beau Johnson, 6-foot-6, 297 lbs. (Committed on 01/05/2026)
5. DL Talan Carter, 6-foot-1, 300 lbs. (Committed on 01/05/2026)
6. CB Cobey Sellers, 5-foot-11, 176 lbs. (Committed on 01/06/2026)
7. IOL Lyndon Cooper, 6-foot-2, 310 lbs. (Committed 01/07/2026)
8. P Tyler Ebel, 6-foot-4, 235 lbs. (Committed 01/08/2026)
9. WR Cole Adams, 5-foot-10, 183 lbs. (Committed on 01/09/2026)

Outgoing Vanderbilt Transfers

1. CB Trudell Berry
2. DL Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala
3. EDGE Linus Zunk (Committed to Washington State on 01/08/2026)
4. IOL Cooper Starks (Committed to South Dakota State on 01/06/2026)
5. LB Jailen Ruth
6. LB Randon Fontenette
7. OT Misael Sandoval
8. RB AJ Newberry
9. RB Chase Gillespie
10. TE Larry Benton III
11. TE Witt Edwards
12. QB Jeremy St-Hilaire
13. QB Drew Dickey (Committed to Arkansas State on 01/04/2026)
14. WR Tre Richardson (Committed to Louisville on 01/09/2026)
15. WR Chance Fitzgerald
16. WR Jeremiah Dillon
17. WR Boski Barrett