As this program restructures the roster in preparation for the upcoming season, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are working behind the scenes on the recruiting trail.
The Bayou Bengals announced their commitment to the program on Friday and added two significant Transfer Portal targets.
For LSU, this has been a busy week. The offseason is well underway, with two additions on Friday and nine departures in the first two weeks of the portal.
Who is present? Who is not in?
The Tracker for the Official LSU Transfer Portal:
The Extras
Zavion Thomas: Broad Catcher
Wide receiver Zavion Thomas of Mississippi State made a commitment to the Bayou Bengals on Friday.
The Tigers have an incredible weapon ahead of them thanks to a proven return specialist with elite-level hands.
the season of 2024.
Thomas decided to use the NCAA Transfer Portal because he was ready for a change of scenery after spending two years in Starkville.
The Louisiana native is now a Tiger since this program gave the talented wideout and return specialist prompt attention.
We anticipated that the Tigers would have to deal with Thomas sooner rather than later. LSU put a full court press on him on Monday with an unofficial visit, even though he was a hot commodity in the portal.
Thomas, who finished 2023 with 503 yards on 40 receptions, will be an important part of LSU’s offensive line play in the upcoming campaign. Watch out for the Louisiana native, who is a return specialist and a highly sought-after wideout in this program.
Thomas
became the second commitment for LSU the day after former Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert made a pledge.
Jardin Gilbert: Security
With two seasons left of eligibility, the former U-High standout, who is also from Louisiana, returns home to play for the purple and gold.
Gilbert, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds, reaches the desired size for this program as they strive to add more defensive backs through the portal.
Gilbert started the 2023 season as a starter for Texas A&M, but a shoulder injury sustained in just two games ended his junior year. He recorded five tackles, one pass break, and one tackle for loss in his two games played.
The coveted safety was ready for a change of scenery after 23 games in College Station, and the LSU Tigers made the decision.
The Louisiana native will now have the opportunity to play for the Bayou Bengals upon his return home, capping his collegiate career.
The Trips:
Sage Ryan: Linebacker
Ryan, an LSU alum who has been a defensive endfield whiz, started nine of the Tigers’ twelve games in 2023, making a significant impact at cornerback when the team needed more reinforcements.
The native of Louisiana totaled 35 tackles, including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage, and broke up three passes. Ryan completed with a PFF grade of 74.0 in coverage after playing 620 snaps.
The previous five-star prospects
It is a bit of a surprise to leave Baton Rouge. There were hopes that he could keep moving this program forward after seeing a lot of playing time as a redshirt sophomore.
Fitzgerald West: Linebacker on Defense
The native of Louisiana will be eligible at his next location for three years.
After alternating between the two sides of the ball during his tenure in Death Valley, West has had an exceptional two years in the purple and gold.
He moved to defense during the 2023 season because that was where he felt most at ease. West has established himself in his position going forward, despite his lack of playing time.
“I enjoy it. I’m accustomed to it. Since I’ve played it for practically my entire life,
natural for me, stated West. However, I wouldn’t say that the transition learning plays and other things is too difficult for me. I am fairly familiar with the scheme, so I understand my role in each play.
Marlon Martinez: Lineman on Offense
After spending four seasons in Baton Rouge, LSU offensive lineman Marlon Martinez has made his way onto the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Martinez, who was Brian Kelly’s program’s main backup, will join his next destination as a graduate transfer with instant eligibility.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Florida prospect, who was part of the Tigers’ 2020 recruiting class, is now hoping to make an early impression after gaining SEC experience.
Over the course of four seasons and 45 games, Martinez started four games for LSU.
Quency Wiggins: Center of defense
The Tigers were interested in Wiggins when he was a four-star player and a Top 50 prospect in the 2022 cycle.
Being one of the best defensive ends in the country, Wiggins’ development was expected to accelerate; however, this season, in the absence of a defensive line coach, his progress was slowed.
Over the course of two seasons, Wiggins made fewer than ten appearances for the Tigers. He will now test the free agency market in an effort to find a team where he can contribute right away.
Wiggins is a raw defensive lineman with versatility that will fetch a high price in the Transfer Portal.
If a player still possesses all the necessary intangibles to be a productive member of a Power Five program, seek out the formerhttps://spheresports.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-1245973500-scaled-e1676336938881-jpg.webp
high four-star recruit should look for a place to live as soon as possible.
McGohan, Jackson: Tight End
McGohan, one of the Tigers’ three freshman tight ends in the 2023 recruiting class, leaves with a number of possible employers interested in hiring him.
McGohan’s skill set piqued the interest of those in the program after he participated in eight games during Year 1, but the LSU tight end depth chart is still stacked.
Mac Markway and Ka’Morreun Pimpton, two freshmen, along with junior Mason Taylor, will be back for the 2024 campaign. Connor Gilbreath is a JUCO prospect that the Tigers added in July, even though his future looks to be at the offensive line.
In the 2024 class, the Tigers also managed to sign Trey’Dez Green, a highly sought-after prospect. An
Four-star native from Louisiana, he’ll also try to get reps early.
Bryce Langston: Lineman on Defense
Former four-star prospect Langston signed with the Tigers in 2021, but during his time in Louisiana, he only appeared in four games for the purple and gold.
Langston, a native of the Sunshine State, was among the Tigers’ top recruits in the 2021 cycle, but he never got enough playing time with the team.
Now, Langston has made a business decision to pursue playing time after sticking with the program and waiting patiently in a time when it’s simple to leave in the blink of an eye.
The 6-foot-3, 293-pound player joined running backs Armoni Goodwin and Kevontre Bradford as the fourth LSU Tiger to register on the NCAA Transfer Portal.
at the time, along with Laterrance Welch, the cornerback.
Bradford Kevontre: Running Back
In 2020, Bradford committed to LSU as a high school recruit, but he left the Tigers after just one season and announced his intention to attend Oklahoma.
Bradford did not play a snap for the Sooners despite moving from Baton Rouge to the Big 12.
The native of Texas would later leave Oklahoma and make his second stint back with the Tigers, but he would leave the team altogether prior to the 2022 campaign.
Bradford hadn’t played at the collegiate level in almost two years, so Kelly giving him another chance gave the running back room some depth.
Now, Bradford leaves with a chance once more.
to get pictures from somewhere else. Bradford didn’t take another snap after playing running back for the first time this season against Florida State in Week 1.
Armoni Goodwin: The Backrunner
Goodwin, who did not play this season, has struggled with injuries during his time in the program, which has caused a major decline in his standing on the depth chart.
Goodwin had 16 carries for 65 yards and zero touchdowns in 2021 as a true freshman, but he saw a lot of action in his first season with the Tigers.
Goodwin was the Tigers’ starting RB1 going into the season, but a knee injury cut his season short. He totaled 45 carries for 267 yards and five touchdowns in his sophomore year.
Once more in time for Fall Camp in
Goodwin continued to be a player recovering from an injury at half speed in 2023.
The former American Top 150 prospect is back in the market and hoping to get some serious playing time.
The LSU running back group is still a promising group. For the upcoming season, the Tigers will have four scholarship backs and Logan Diggs, who will start in 2023.
Running backs coach Frank Wilson signed Top 10 2024 running hack Caden Durham in addition to maintaining depth. Going forward, the purple and gold are loaded at running back thanks to a player who can make an instant impact.
Welch, Laterrance: Cornerback
Welch, a former four-star who was ranked among the Top 150 prospects for the 2022 cycle, has a lot of upside as he moves on to the next phase of his
career as a player.
According to PFF, Welch participated in 96 defensive plays this season in addition to receiving reps with the special teams unit.
The Tigers’ defensive backfield is still a source of worry because of its lack of depth going forward.
Moving forward, LSU will have, among others, Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut, Denver Harris, JK Johnson, Sage Ryan, Ashton Stamps, Javien Toviano, and Jeremiah Hughes.
For unknown reasons, Chestnut and Harris did not play for the Tigers in the second half of the 2023 season, and Johnson missed the entire campaign due to a surgery-related lower-body injury.
