Tag: denver harris

Anonymous coaches name LSU a transfer portal winner so far

The Tigers currently have the best transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports.

There’s no denying the transfer portal has been key to Brian Kelly’s strategy at LSU.

The Tigers coach inherited a depleted roster when he took the job just over a year ago, and a 10-win, SEC West championship season in 2022 would not have been possible were it not for the impactful additions through the portal. With many of those transfers being veterans who are now moving on, LSU had to hit the portal again this offseason, albeit in a less desperate situation.

Once again, the transfer portal has treated Kelly well. He’s brought in a group of immediate impact players at positions of need, especially at linebacker and in the secondary, and LSU’s transfer class ranks as the best in college football, per 247Sports.

Sometimes industry folks can overrate or underrate certain players, so it can be best to hear things directly from the mouths of those who are more directly involved. ESPN discussed which teams are winning the portal so far with several anonymous coaches, and LSU unsurprisingly came up. However, one SEC coordinator did question how sustainable Kelly’s roster strategy is.

LSU always will be one of the best-positioned programs for top high school players, especially from within the state. But the team had roster issues during its recent coaching transition, and it hit the portal for quarterback Jayden Daniels (Arizona State), defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (Missouri), cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse (Oklahoma State) and others. The roster is in better shape now, and LSU signed ESPN’s No. 7 recruiting class but also kept mining the portal.

Top additions include linebacker Omar Speights, who earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors at Oregon State in 2022, as well as defensive backs Duce Chestnut (Syracuse), Denver Harris (Texas A&M) and JK Johnson (Ohio State). LSU also bolstered its defensive front with Ovie Oghoufo (Texas), Jordan Jefferson (West Virginia) and Jalen Lee (Florida).

“That might not be what Brian Kelly wants to do, but last year, they were depleted and they took a bunch of kids out of the portal,” an SEC coordinator said. “This year, they’re taking a ton of kids out of the portal. It’s kind of one of those never-ending cycles, where once you do, you’ve got to keep doing it to replenish. LSU might be a little bit different, where you can get some blue chips that can help you right away, but it’s hard.”

There’s a lot to like about the Tigers’ transfer class. Speights has been one of the top linebackers in college football over the last few seasons, and that should continue in Baton Rouge. Additions like Chestnut and Harris should give the secondary plenty of talent, while LSU added a lot of depth on the defensive line.

Relying so much on the portal may not be ideal, but it has also allowed Kelly to turn things around at LSU much quicker than many expected. With this transfer haul, he’s set to have a competitive team in the SEC West once again.

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Analyzing every LSU cornerback transfer addition

Here’s what to expect from LSU’s key transfer additions at corner.

For the second year in a row, LSU was forced to rebuild its secondary through the portal.

Last year’s additions — [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] — proved to be essential to the success of LSU’s defense.

Garner, Bernard-Converse and Foucha are off to the NFL, and a couple of LSU’s younger corners have hit the portal themselves. The attrition left LSU with few options to start at corner in 2023, none of them proven.

Those concerns have been squashed as LSU is set to bring in a slew of transfer corners. At least a couple from this crew should be in Baton Rouge for more than a year.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see these guys earn starting roles, or at least, make big contributions.

Here’s a look at LSU’s corner additions in the portal.

LSU expected to add former blue-chip Ohio State corner JK Johnson

Johnson changed his bio on Twitter to include LSU on Sunday.

LSU has been aggressive in addressing the secondary — and the cornerback position, specifically — so far this offseason. It seems the program is poised to add yet another through the portal.

Ohio State cornerback transfer [autotag]JK Johnson[/autotag] is expected to transfer to LSU. Johnson posted photos from his Baton Rouge visit this weekend, and though he didn’t explicitly commit, he did update his Twitter bio to include the Tigers.

This would be another huge pickup for LSU, which also added Syracuse transfer [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag] on Friday and had already landed a pair of corner transfers in [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] and [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag].

The DeSmet, Missouri, native is a former top 50 prospect, and he appeared in 15 games, totaling 22 tackles in two years. Johnson appeared in all 13 games this season, starting five of them.

His decision to transfer to LSU makes quite a bit of sense. Tigers cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] was Johnson’s head coach in high school at DeSmet Jesuit, and now the pair have reunited on the bayou.

With the departures of [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag] and others, it was important that LSU land instant impact players in the portal. Johnson would certainly be one.

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LSU picks up big-time Syracuse defensive back transfer Duce Chestnut

The Tigers picked up a former Freshman All-American in the portal.

The Tigers are not done yet in the transfer portal, especially when it comes to rebuilding the secondary. On Sunday, LSU landed a commitment from sophomore Syracuse cornerback [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag], a starter who played in 24 games in two seasons.

Chestnut heads for greener pastures after a stellar two-year career in which he totaled 83 tackles, four interceptions and 13 pass breakups. The Camden, New Jersey, native was named a Freshman All-American in 2021 by multiple national publications and finished as the runner-up in ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

After the departures of several veterans including [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], LSU will turn to Chestnut and its two other transfer corners in Texas A&M’s [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] and Southeastern Louisiana’s [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag], as well as the three true freshmen it signed at the position.

With only [autotag]Laterrance Welch[/autotag] and [autotag]Sevyn Banks[/autotag] as scholarship returning players at corner, it’s not a surprise coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has once again opted for an aggressive transfer portal strategy to address corner.

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LSU’s recruiting class is good, but it’s still a step away from elite

Brian Kelly and LSU are still a step away from recruiting at an elite level.

When [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] first took the job at LSU, people questioned his ability to recruit Louisiana. I didn’t think it was fair.

Kelly brought talent from all over the country to Notre Dame and was a proven winner. He was going to be fine at LSU — a place that recruits itself. Kelly doesn’t have to be a genius to bring talent to campus. He knows that, too, and it’s a large piece of why he took the job.

His first real recruiting cycle demonstrated competency. He put together a good staff and landed a top-10 class. It’s well-rounded and balanced. It’s got top talent from Louisiana and from around the country.

It’s a really good class and on par with what we’ve come to expect from LSU. It’s hard to lodge any complaints, especially with what LSU could be set to do in the portal.

However, it’s still a step away from being elite.

LSU lost ground with some priority targets late in the cycle. [autotag]Joshua Mickens[/autotag] and [autotag]Darron Reed[/autotag], both once committed to LSU, ended up at Ohio State and Auburn.

[autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag], a five-star corner who once looked Baton Rouge bound, threw on an Alabama hat. At quarterback, LSU swung and missed at some of the cycles best players.

Again, that’s nitpicking. Despite missing on Mickens and Reed, LSU brought in a couple of blue-chip edge rushers. Despite missing on Ricks, LSU landed five-star [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] and plucked [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] from the portal.

What Kelly and staff did is better than good enough, but it’s not elite. LSU is still a notch below fellow SEC programs like Alabama and Georgia. Nick Saban just signed what could be his most talented class yet, and Georgia continued to do its thing.

Classes like that year in and year out are why Alabama and Georgia are always in the playoff discussion. They’ve built titans.

Now, winning a championship doesn’t require a top-two class every year. LSU beat Alabama this year with a far less talented team. LSU’s 2019 title was built with recruiting classes similar to LSU’s 2023 class. Clemson’s won titles without winning recruiting classes too.

TCU and Michigan are in the playoff, and neither of those programs out-recruited Saban and Kirby. But being at the top every year requires a class to the level of Alabama and Georgia.

LSU wasn’t able to replace what it lost after 2019 and the last two years have shown us what Clemson looks like without a top QB prospect. When you don’t land a top-three class, you’re banking on too much to go right.

You’re hoping that three stars will turn into [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag]. You’re hoping that your quarterback plays to the level of [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag] or [autotag]Trevor Lawrence[/autotag]. It’s foolish to rely on those things.

Celebrate it when it happens, but it’s not a sustainable strategy for programs that want to build dynasties of their own. LSU’s 2024 class is already in a great spot, though its hard to gather any takeaways this early in the cycle.

I didn’t expect LSU to have a top-three class this year. This isn’t a disappointment or a critique. I’m not even saying a top two or three class should be the expectation or the standard.

LSU doesn’t need to be in the playoff discussion every year for fans to be satisfied. The standard at LSU should be competing for a title every few years and competing for an NY6 appearance in the years between.

LSU can do that with recruiting classes such as the one it just signed, but if LSU wants to be on the same level as Alabama and Georgia, it needs to take that one last step.

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Tigers announce the addition of 7 transfers

The Tigers brought in an impressive group of transfers on Friday.

LSU coach Brian Kelly said he didn’t want to take away from high school early signing day by formally announcing transfer portal additions, but several had already been made public, and we knew that the Tigers would be looking to add several players.

On Friday, seven of those transfer decisions were made public.

The haul is highlighted by a pair of former five-stars in receiver [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag], 2022 prospects who come in after one season at Alabama and Texas A&M, respectively. Otherwise, the Tigers filled a major need by adding several defensive lineman.

Here’s the full group of players that were formally announced by LSU on Friday.

LSU lands former 5-star defensive back transfer

The Tigers landed one of the transfer portal’s most coveted prospects on Thursday.

The bad news, LSU missed out on [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag]. The good news, the Tigers picked up 2022 five-star cornerback [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] from Texas A&M.

The freshman played in five games for the Aggies this season making 10 tackles and three pass breakups. Coming out of high school, Harris was the No. 23 player overall and the No. 3 cornerback in the 2022 class. Now, Harris gets a chance to come to DBU and train with some of the best of all time.

What a huge win this is for Brian Kelly and his coaching staff in this recruiting class. Kelly said he will release the list of transfers tomorrow. The 2023 class ranks as the No. 7 class overall and the only recruit LSU is still in on is a five-star athlete [autotag]Nyckoles Harbor[/autotag].

Harbor has received a crystal ball to South Carolina, but Michigan is a 37% favorite to land her per On3. Harbor is not going to announce until February.

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Updated look at the top 10 available players in the transfer portal currently

The transfer portal is loaded with talent right now.

The transfer portal is already loaded with talent this offseason. Continue reading “Updated look at the top 10 available players in the transfer portal currently”

Jimbo Fisher clears the air during weekly SEC Coaches Teleconference

Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher clears up some lingering rumors regarding the program during Tuesday’s weekly SEC Coaches Teleconference

The Aggies have dealt with more adversity within their program than any FBS team during the 2022 college football season, and no, I’m not overexaggerating.

Just as a healthy reminder, news broke on Monday night from TexAgs owner Billy Liucci that three freshman members of the roster including wide receiver Chris Marshall, cornerback Denver Harris, and offensive lineman PJ Williams were suspended indefinitely after an incident in the locker room after the team’s Week 8 road loss to South Carolina combined with redshirt freshman running back LJ Johnson’s surprising no show during Monday’s practice.

Let me remind you that these are 18 to 19-year-old young men that made a minor mistake, while Fisher just wants the best for their futures. Rule of thumb, it’s safe to say that when Liucci confirms internal issues concerning Texas A&M, we’re all ears.

On Tuesday during the weekly SEC Coaches Teleconference, head coach Jimbo Fisher quickly cleared a couple of things up as soon as he had the chance, first stating that LJ Johnson is in fact still with the team despite the unfounded rumors making their way through social media, but declined to comment when asked about the three player suspensions, coming as no surprise due to the internal nature of the situation.

Lastly, when asked about quarterback Haynes King’s status going into the Aggie’s Week 9 home matchup with Ole Miss, Fisher states that “he’s doing very well”, and will be available against the Rebels this Saturday night.

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Report: Multiple Aggie football players suspended indefinitely

Three players and a possible fourth have been suspended according to recent reports that surfaced on Monday night

On Monday night, news broke that three Texas A&M players have been suspended by head coach Jimbo Fisher for reasons unknown as of now, as TexAgs owner Billy Liucci shared the news via Twitter after breaking the news through the TexAgs message boards.

As of right now, the suspended players are listed as freshman offensive tackle PJ Williams, freshman cornerback Denver Harris, and freshman wide receiver Chris Marshall, as the latter players listed have either started or contributed at a high level for the team in almost every game this season. a fourth player, redshirt freshman running back LJ Johnson did not show up to practice on Monday afternoon, yet his possible suspension is simply based on speculation.

This will be the second suspension for Chris Marshall and Denver Harris this season, as both sat out of the Miami game in Week 3 due to a “violation of team rules”, on the night before the game. Heading into Texas A&M’s Week 9 home matchup against 15th-ranked Ole Miss, the struggling Aggies will yet again be shorted-handed on both sides of the ball.

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