Tag: Jacobian Guillory

LSU hosting defensive tackle transfer portal target for visit Monday

The Tigers are hosting big-time transfer Damonic Williams to kick off the week.

With the spring transfer portal window now open, LSU has a clear need at defensive line, particularly along the interior.

It’s been no secret that coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and the staff are trying to add experienced defensive tackles to the roster, and one of the top options on the board is uncommitted TCU transfer [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].

Williams has already taken visits to Oklahoma and Texas, and while he was slated to visit LSU and later Colorado this past weekend, he changed things up. Instead, he visited Missouri this past weekend and will arrive in Baton Rouge for a visit on Monday, per On3’s Shea Dixon.

Dixon reports that the Longhorns are the team to beat at the moment for Williams, but LSU will hope to sway him. Williams, who will be a junior in 2023, has started 27 straight games since arriving at TCU.

He was a Freshman All-American in 2022 and an honorable mention for both All-Big 12 and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2023. In two seasons with the Horned Frogs, he totaled 60 tackles (9.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

LSU is in desperate need of depth at the position after three defensive tackles were drafted in 2024, leaving [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] as the only experienced players at the position.

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LSU defensive tackle transfer target commits to Auburn

LSU missed on a defensive tackle transfer prospect.

LSU came up short in landing one of its top transfer defensive tackle targets as [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] committed to Auburn.

Blidi began his career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana. He hit the portal again after a year with the Hoosiers, this time garnering SEC interest.

According to On3’s Shea Dixon, Auburn made an impression on Blidi, and the buzz around his recruitment signaled Auburn following Blidi’s visit to the Plains.

Per PFF, Blidi was the 15th-best graded defensive tackle in the Big Ten last year while totaling 15 pressures and 11 run stops.

LSU needs to beef up its defensive tackle group and remains in pursuit of some of the portal’s top players, including DTs [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].

Blidi bolsters an already solid Auburn transfer class that ranks 10th in the country, according to On3.

LSU remains well positioned with the seventh-ranked transfer class, but Blidi is a loss given the Tigers’ need at his position.

Brian Kelly said defensive tackle is the only position LSU is after in the spring portal window. [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] are the only two scholarship defensive tackles on the roster who saw time for LSU last year.

Despite the lack of numbers, Kelly feels good about where the position is headed with defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] leading the way.

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Simeon Barrow and Damonic Williams offer LSU chance to rebuild defensive line

A couple of big name transfers could allow LSU to rebuild its defensive tackle room.

The spring portal window is open and one position is in especially high demand — defensive tackle. LSU head coach Brian Kelly even went so far as to say this is the only position LSU is looking to add.

Just a few days in, the Tigers already have a couple of key visits lined up. LSU will be hosting [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] in the near future with the hopes of landing a defensive tackle that can make an immediate impact.

Following the spring game, Kelly credited defensive line coach Bo Davis with bringing a different level of talent to campus. We’re seeing more evidence of that here even if there’s a way to go in both players’ recruitments.

As it stands, LSU has one proven player at defensive tackle in fifth-year DL [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag]. The Tigers need help there is this defense wants to take a step forward.

With Barrow and Williams, LSU has the chance to add an instant upgrade to its defensive tackle group. Relying on the portal is a tricky way to build a team, but LSU’s gotten lucky with some difference makers on the DL entering their names.

It will be tough for LSU to land both of these players, and fans shouldn’t expect that, but even one would go a long way toward shoring up the middle of this defense. Depth would remain a concern, but a starting two of Guillory and Barrow or Guillory and Williams will do the job.

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LSU to host experienced Michigan State defensive tackle transfer this weekend

The Tigers are clearly aiming to bulk up the defensive line’s interior in the transfer portal.

LSU has a clear need along the interior of the defensive line, and it’s clear addressing that is a priority in the second transfer portal window.

The Tigers have already offered one of the best transfers at the position in Kent State’s [autotag]CJ West[/autotag], and now they’re reportedly in contact with Michigan State defensive tackle transfer [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag]

A redshirt senior from Grovetown, Georgia, who entered the transfer portal on Thursday, Barrow appeared in 34 games over the last three seasons with the Spartans, starting 30 of them.

He has 110 career tackles (18.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks. He has also forced two fumbles with one recovery while blocking two field goals, and he was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022 and 2023.

According to On3, he’s down to six schools and expected to make a transfer decision quickly. On3’s Pete Nakos later reported that Barrow would visit LSU on Sunday.

LSU’s only two experienced returning players at the position are [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], and the depth behind them is lacking. LSU may be looking to add several bodies at defensive tackle, but Barrow would be a major pickup for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

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Brian Kelly hints that LSU could still add a defensive tackle after signing day

Defensive tackle remains a major area of need with National Signing Day in the books.

National signing day is in the books for LSU.

It wasn’t a particularly eventful day: 28 of its 29 commits were signed in December. The lone unsigned player, five-star defensive tackle [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], made everything official. However, LSU missed on the only other player it was in the mix for. Five-star athlete [autotag]Terry Bussey[/autotag] held true to his commitment to Texas A&M.

While we may have far more roster clarity heading into 2024, the Tigers may not be done yet. Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the team still has some needs that could be addressed during the signing period, mentioning the defensive tackle depth, specifically.

“We still have some needs,” Kelly said. “The defensive tackle position is one that we’re still vetting that we have some needs that we’ll continue to look at moving forward going into the spring. But again, excited about Dominick McKinley and his addition today. … We could have some other movement here.”

It’s certainly an area of concern for the Tigers. LSU returns only one player with significant experience at the spot: veteran [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag]. It wouldn’t be surprising to see LSU make another move in the transfer portal this week.

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Report: LSU DT Jacobian Guillory did not enter 2024 NFL draft, plans to return to Tigers

LSU has seen some key losses along the defensive line, but it’s set to get a veteran back in 2024.

LSU has suffered some key losses along the defensive line, particularly its interior, this offseason. But the Tigers are reportedly set to get a major piece back at that spot in 2024.

According to On3’s Shea Dixon, Tigers defensive tackle [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] did not enter his name into the 2024 NFL draft prior to Monday’s deadline and instead plans to return to LSU for what will be his redshirt senior season.

A former four-star prospect from Alexandria, Louisiana, Guillory has mostly been a rotational player in his four years at LSU. He’s appeared in 39 games but made just three starts, two of which came in 2022 and one of which was this past season.

However, Guillory’s role will likely increase significantly in 2024. The Tigers saw both starting defensive tackles — [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] —declare for the draft. [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag], a graduate transfer from West Virginia who saw starting action when Wingo got hurt, is out of eligibility.

The defensive line will be a major question next season, but new coach Bo Davis will have a veteran piece to work with in Guillory.

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Defensive tackle Jalen Lee to return to LSU for final season of eligibility

Jalen Lee appeared in seven games but played just 52 snaps as a transfer from Florida this season.

LSU has seen some heavy losses along the interior of the defensive line so far this offseason, but it got one piece of good news on Wednesday.

Defensive tackle [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] announced that he would be returning to the Tigers for his fifth and final season of eligibility, according to On3’s Shea Dixon.

After [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] declared for the 2024 NFL draft and three other reserve defensive tackles entered the transfer portal, Lee is one of only two returning scholarship defensive tackles currently on the roster along with [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag].

A native of Watson, Louisiana, Lee began his career at Florida, where he appeared in 25 games with four starts. He returned to his home state this past offseason, but he saw just 52 snaps in seven games, totaling just two assisted tackles.

LSU has lost a lot on the interior, and that could mean expanded roles for both Lee and Guillory heading into 2024.

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LSU left thin at defensive tackle after Maason Smith declares for draft

LSU is left thin at defensive tackle after Maason Smith declared for the draft.

LSU’s [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] declared for the NFL draft on Tuesday evening, joining fellow defensive lineman [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag].

There was originally some optimism that Smith and Wingo would return, giving LSU a solid foundation to build on up front. Now, new defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] is stuck looking for answers on the interior defensive line.

At the moment, LSU returns [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag]. Guillory played 258 snaps last year, and he’s competent but never occupied a role as a full-time starter. Lee played just 52 snaps after transferring in from Florida.

LSU’s stuck in this position now after failing to sign a single defensive tackle in the 2023 class and coming up empty in the transfer portal thus far.

Last offseason, I wrote about how having two elite players at defensive tackle can change your defense. Just look at what having Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis did for Georgia on its title run. Look at how Texas‘ strength at defensive tackle took that program to the next level in 2023.

The hope was that Smith and Wingo would do that for LSU last year. But that never panned out as Smith took a while to get going after returning and Wingo missed the second half of the season.

This is the SEC, and it’s going to get even tougher with Oklahoma and Texas joining. You can’t be thin up front, especially in the middle of the defensive line.

There doesn’t appear to be an immediate solution. Just two of the top 25 transfer defensive tackles remain uncommitted, according to 247Sports. LSU does have a solid group of interior defensive linemen in its high school class, including headliner [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], but you can’t count on those guys to be ready right away.

Kelly and whoever takes over the defense have their hands full. There’s usually another wave of transfers following spring practice. LSU will need to hold onto everything it has on the defensive line while hoping a couple of difference-makers hit the portal.

The defense was already going to take a year or two to rebuild with how young the secondary is, but losing Wingo and Smith up front just made the job tougher.

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Brian Kelly optimistic about the defensive tackle position for 2024

The LSU Tigers currently have nine defensive tackles on the 2023 roster.

The LSU Tigers currently have nine defensive tackles on the 2023 roster. [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag], [autotag]Fitzgerald West Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Langston[/autotag], [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], [autotag]Tygee Hill[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag], [autotag]Preston Hickey[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag].

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] added onto that with the addition of [autotag]Shone Washington[/autotag], a transfer from East Mississippi Community College. Who knows how many of those guys will return for next season or how many will leave? We do know that Kelly feels confident about the guys he has on his roster for next fall.

“We feel good about retention,” Kelly said, per On3. “So I think both of those things factored into where we’re at at the defensive tackle position.”

Another factor that could play into the strength of the defensive tackle position is [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] playing in the Tigers bowl game and how that could mean that he will return for his senior season at LSU. With Wingo and a 100% healthy [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], the Tigers defensive line could make some noise next fall.

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Defensive line depth will pay off for LSU against Alabama

LSU is ready to deal with the loss of Mekhi Wingo thanks to depth up the middle.

[autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] was arguably LSU’s best defender entering the year.

The junior defensive tackle was a Third-Team All-American last year. Opposing coaches raved about how disruptive can be and on top of that, he was chosen to wear the coveted No. 18.

Now, Wingo is out for the year with a chance of returning if LSU somehow manages to make the playoff. Losing Wingo is a blow to an LSU defense that’s already struggled. Wingo was a rare mark of consistency on that side of the ball.

But if there’s any spot on LSU’s defense that’s positioned to handle this, its defensive tackle. LSU’s depth is in a good spot here and with [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag] leading the charge, the starting two remain some of the SEC’s best.

Smith got off to a slow start as he worked his way back from a torn ACL a year ago, but now ranks fourth among SEC DTs in PFF pass rush grade.

Jefferson, a West Virginia transfer, has been a revelation for LSU. He’s become one of the more effective players on LSU’s roster, earning praise from [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] earlier this week.

After Smith and Jefferson, you have [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], a solid piece who’s played over 100 snaps in each of the last three seasons. He’s set for an increased role on Saturday night with Wingo out.

Smith, Jefferson and Guillory will get the bulk of the snaps. Due to a secondary that grows more depleted by the week, LSU will still count on its interior defensive line to be the strength of this defense.

Alabama isn’t dominant up front as it has been in years past. There’s room to disrupt here against an offense that ranks 90th nationally in rushing success rate and a quarterback that takes plenty of sacks.

LSU’s playing on the road as an underdog. A turnover or two will be needed to win this one. That starts with pressure up the middle.

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