Tag: Gio Paez

What is LSU’s biggest need entering the spring transfer portal window?

The Tigers could still use some help on defense entering the second transfer portal window.

With many college football programs completing spring practice over the weekend, the spring transfer portal window is set to open on Tuesday.

SEC teams are a bit limited in who they can target during this window as spring transfers are not permitted to move within the conference. Still, LSU approaches the second window with some clear needs.

It addressed several positions of need in the first window, most notably receiver with the additions of [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag]. It also has added a few defensive players like defensive lineman [autotag]Gio Paez[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag].

Still, after an abysmal performance last season, the defense likely still needs to add some players.

On3’s Jesse Simonton assessed the biggest remaining portal need for every championship contender, and for LSU, it’s simply any help on the defensive side of the ball.

Brian Kelly is already on record that the Tigers will add defensive tackle depth when the portal opens — and that’s a must with the departure of the team’s top four interior tackles last season in Maason Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Jacobian Guillory and Jalen Lee.

But LSU’s head coach should not stop there. If the spring game was any indication (busted coverages are becoming a far too common theme with this group the last few years), Blake Baker’s unit still needs a whole lot of help in the secondary, too.

In fact, if any impact transfer defensive player — be it a pass rusher or linebacker as well, — wants to come play for the Bayou Bengals, then LSU should not turn them down. Kelly whiffed on some portal additions in the secondary last season, but he must take some swings again this spring if the Tigers hope to truly contend for a 12-team playoff spot this fall.

The Tigers face depth issues at a number of positions, particularly along the defensive line and in the secondary. However, it’s worth noting that Simonton is incorrect about the fact that Guillory and Lee have departed. Both are on the roster, though they represent the only returning depth on the interior of the defensive line.

Still, the overall assessment of the defensive roster situation is correct, and LSU will almost certainly address it. Kelly has said the Tigers are primarily looking to add defensive tackles, but perhaps they should examine other defensive transfers, as Simonton suggests.

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BREAKING: LSU lands Wisconsin defensive end transfer Gio Paez

Gio Paez appeared in 36 games in five years at Wisconsin with 11 starts.

LSU added to its transfer class on Tuesday afternoon with the commitment of Wisconsin transfer defensive end [autotag]Gio Paez[/autotag].

A native of Los Angeles who attended high school in North Carolina, Paez was a three-star recruit in the 2019 class. He will be entering his sixth season of college football in 2024.

In five years at Wisconsin, Paez appeared in 34 games, making 11 starts. Six of those starts came this past fall as he had a career year, finishing with 23 total tackles. In his career with the Badgers, Paez has 36 tackles (1.5 for loss).

He will have one remaining year of eligibility as a graduate transfer.

While Paez is far from a proven commodity and lacks significant production in his career, he could provide key depth for a defensive line group that is losing a ton of talent from the 2023 season.

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Former Wisconsin starting defensive lineman commits to an SEC power

Former Wisconsin starting defensive lineman commits to an SEC power

Former Wisconsin starting defensive lineman Gio Paez committed to LSU Tuesday afternoon.

The former Badger entered the transfer portal earlier this month. He played four seasons at Wisconsin after joining the program as a three-star recruit in the class of 2019. His Wisconsin career ends with just 33 total games played, 35 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Related: If Wisconsin decides to move on from Greg Gard, who could it target as its next head coach?

The 2023 season was Paez’s best as a Badger. He made six starts along the defensive line for Luke Fickell’s defense, totaling 22 tackles.

Paez joins an LSU program that defeated the Badgers 35-31 to close the 2023 season. Brian Kelly will enter his third year at the helm in 2024 looking to make a big step forward after consecutive 10-win seasons.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin starting defensive lineman to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin starting defensive lineman Gio Paez is entering the transfer portal, according to reports from Rivals and BadgerExtra’s Jake

Wisconsin defensive lineman Gio Paez is entering the transfer portal, according to a report from Rivals.com.

Paez started six games for the Badgers in 2023 and recorded 22 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. The veteran was slated to be a big part of Wisconsin’s defensive line rotation in 2024 alongside James Thompson Jr., Curt Neal, T.J. Bollers and Ben Barten.

While Luke Fickell attacked the position in the 2024 class, landing two top linemen in four-stars Ernest Willor Jr. and Dillan Johnson, this is not quite the news Wisconsin needed to hear with a few weeks left before spring practice.

Related: Las Vegas Big Ten Championship odds released for 2024 football season

Of note, former Wisconsin defensive line coach Greg Scruggs did just take the same position with Sherrone Moore’s coaching staff at Michigan. The Badgers recently hired former Air Force defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow to fill the position, though now must enter the year without one of their dependable veterans.

Paez, a member of Wisconsin’s class of 2019, has one year of eligibility remaining.

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Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

Projecting Wisconsin’s 2020 Spring Defensive Depth Chart

Who will open up on Wisconsin’s spring depth chart on the defensive side of the football?

Wisconsin’s defense in 2020 will be missing not only two key players but also two key leaders to not only the defense but the entire team. Those two players being 2019 team captains outside linebacker Zack Baun and inside linebacker Chris Orr. Despite Wisconsin losing Baun and Orr to graduation the Badgers still return an impressive nine starters from last year’s defense.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we project what the spring depth chart on defense will look like when the Badgers open up spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Defensive Line: DE 1. Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand, 2. Matt Henningsen and Isaiah Mullens NT 1. Keeanu Benton 2. Gio Paez

Loudermilk and Rand were able to stay healthy over the course of their redshirt junior seasons and as long as they stay healthy they have established themselves as starters at the defensive end positions. Henningsen used last year’s spring practice to put him in a position to have a terrific redshirt sophomore season. If Henningsen can put together a productive spring like he did in 2019 should allow him to take another step in his development. Mullens appeared in 13 games mostly on special teams as he registered one tackle. With backup defensive end David Pfaff graduating he’ll have a chance in spring football to show why he deserves to be apart of the defensive line rotation. At nose tackle, Keeanu Benton will be going through his first spring practice and will receive plenty of valuable practice reps as Bryson Williams could miss all of spring football as he continues to recover from his left leg injury that he suffered this past season. If Williams can’t go that will mean more reps for redshirt freshman Gio Paez as it will be critical that he takes advantage of his reps.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Linebackers: OLB 1. Noah Burks and Izayah Green-May, 2. Spencer Lytle and Jaylan Franklin ILB 1. Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal 2. Mike Maskalunas and Maema Njongmeta

Christian Bell would’ve had a chance at competing for one of the starting outside linebacker positions opposite of Noah Burks but instead elected to transfer. That leave’s Green-May as the likely starter opposite of Burks when Wisconsin opens spring football. Green-May initially started the 2019 season as a starter but suffered a right arm injury early in the season, which caused him to miss time. Green-May was able to put together a productive fall camp and the practice habits he developed last year will need to continue if he wants to establish himself as the starter once again. Outside linebackers coach Bobby April will also give Franklin and Lytle a look as a starter opposite of Burks. Making it an important spring for both of them as the Badgers look for a starter who can complement Burks. Wisconsin may lose Chris Orr at middle linebacker but the transition between Orr and Leo Chenal should be a smooth one. Chenal gained valuable experience last year as he played as a true freshman. Chenal will receive plenty of reps over spring football and he should be able to take a nice step in his development. Maskalunas will be Chenal’s top competitor for the other starting inside linebacker position as he’s been serviceable during his time at Wisconsin. Njongmeta redshirted last season and will be going through his first spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Cornerbacks: 1. Faion Hicks and Rachad Wildgoose 2. Caesar Williams and Semar Melvin

Hicks has been a regular starter at cornerback for Wisconsin the past two seasons and that shouldn’t change heading into spring practices. Wildgoose and Williams started eight and seven games respectively a season ago. The trio has been Wisconsin’s most consistent group of cornerbacks. Semar Melvin is coming off a redshirt season but he was able to take advantage of the redshirt rule by playing in four games without burning a year of eligibility. Melvin was up and down, which is understandable but the reps he does receive during spring practice will be invaluable as he looks to build off of his freshman season. Jim Leonhard will also likely rotate in Donte Burton and Deron Harrell too as the starters at cornerback or with the second string cornerbacks too.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Safety: FS 1. Eric Burrell, 2. John Torchio SS 1. Reggie Pearson, 2. Collin Wilder

Wisconsin Football Season Review: Defensive Line

How did Wisconsin’s defensive line play over the 2019 season?

Wisconsin finished its fifth season under head coach Paul Chryst as Chryst improved his overall record to 52-16 and has a posted a 34-10 record in conference games. After not winning the Big Ten West Division title in 2018 the Badgers were back in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game as the West representative for the fourth time in the last six years since the Big Ten went to its current format.

In this Badgers Wire feature we will examine the play of Wisconsin’s defensive line from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

If the tight end position was hit hard by injuries in 2019 that award goes to the defensive line in 2018.

Wisconsin’s projected starting defensive line was Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand at defensive ends and Olive Sagapolu at nose tackle in 2018. But Rand missed the entire season with an injury, Loudermilk missed four games due to an injury, and Sagapolu missed Wisconsin’s last five games after sustaining an injury against Northwestern.

One player who was forced to step up because of the injuries a season ago was Matt Henningsen. Although the coaching staff wasn’t expecting much from him in 2018 prior to the injuries the experience he did gain as a redshirt freshman was invaluable.

Henningsen was able to make a noticeable leap in his play as he started to become more of a playmaker along the Badgers defensive line in 2019. Henningsen finished the season with 24 tackles and his five tackles for loss tied for the team lead among defensive lineman with Loudermilk and his four sacks were the most amongst defensive lineman. Henningsen also registered two defensive touchdowns too.

Loudermilk and Rand were the starters at defensive end as Loudermilk played in all 14 games but Rand did miss one game. Between Rand and Loudermilk they combined for 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks.

They helped set the edge for Wisconsin’s defense and their ability to take on opposing offensive lineman allowed for Wisconsin’s linebackers to consistently make plays an area that was missing at times in 2018.

It also helped that the Badgers received improved play at the nose tackle position. Bryson Williams like Henningsen improved from his freshman season but his season was cut short as he only appeared in six games.

Williams loss would have hurt Wisconsin’s defensive line a lot but due to the play of true freshman Keeanu Benton, the play by Wisconsin’s defensive line didn’t miss a beat.

Benton consistently improved throughout his freshman season as he was able to utilize his wrestling background to help him gain better leverage in the trenches. Benton finished the season with 12 tackles and had four tackles for loss and two sacks.

2020 Wisconsin Defensive Line

With everybody returning along Wisconsin’s defensive line with the exception of David Pfaff the Badgers should once again be strong in the trenches. The starters at defensive end should continue to be Loudermilk and Rand and the Badgers will have two capable nose tackles in Williams and Benton. Benton certainly had an impact as a true freshman and with him going through spring football for the first time should allow for him to only grow as he heads into his sophomore season. It will also be an important spring for redshirt freshman Gio Paez and Rodas Johnson in their development, in addition to Isaiah Mullens too. Wisconsin’s ability to continue to build solid and reliable depth along the defensive line will be critical for not only 2020 but in the future too and that will begin in the spring.