Tag: Jardin Gilbert

LSU transfer portal update: Five safeties LSU should target

Here are LSU’s potential options as the Tigers look to add a safety

LSU football has been busy in the transfer portal since it opened last Monday. So far, the Tigers have added nine players in the portal, including impact starters on both sides of the ball.

LSU isn’t done yet, though. A few needs persist, including at safety and offensive line.

We’ll look at safety today.

LSU got inconsistent safety play in 2024. [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag], [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag], and [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag] are talented players but had their fair share of struggles. Ryan hit the transfer portal, and Burns is set to graduate.

Safeties [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Kylin Jackson[/autotag] joined Ryan in the portal, leaving LSU thin at the position.

LSU likes what it saw from true freshman Dashawn Spears in 2024. Still, adding talent to the room is needed if LSU’s defense wants another step forward.

The Tigers have already lost a couple of the top available safety transfers, but good options remain. Here are five names to know as Brian Kelly and staff continue to bolster the 2024 roster.

Tawfiq Byard, USF

Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

There’s mutual interest between Byard and LSU after the safety took a visit to Baton Rouge earlier this week.

Byard was a three-star recruit in the class of 2023 and saw minimal action as a freshman, but 2024 was a breakout campaign for the sophomore.

Byard’s PFF run defense grade ranks top 40 among safeties with 450+ snaps. That’s what LSU needs on the backend after the Tigers struggled to contain explosive runs in 2024.

Genesis Smith, Arizona

Aryanna Frank-USA TODAY Sports

According to On3, Smith is the top uncommitted safety in the transfer portal. He started 11 games with the Wildcats in 2024, lining up at safety and in the slot. If LSU wants to replace the versatility of Sage Ryan, Smith is the guy.

Smith came up with three picks and forced two fumbles in 2024. He’s 6’2′, which gives him the physicality to play in Blake Baker’s defense.

Tyson Flowers, Rice

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Rice is the No. 188 ranked player in the transfer portal. His PFF defense grade of 78.8 ranked 45th among FBS safeties in 2024. He has 867 career snaps and could be ready to make the jump to the Power Four.

He can play at safety or in the box and would be a fit to step into Major Burns’ role.

Caleb Weaver, Sam Houston State

Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Weaver is one of the most experienced options on the market, with over 1,800 career snaps. He’s listed at 5’9′, but he was still one of the nation’s most productive safeties in 2024, even against the run.

Weave broke up six passes while making 72 tackles. That’s the type of production LSU needs on the backend.

Jalen Stroman, Virginia Tech

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

LSU already landed one Virginia Tech defensive back this cycle, adding cornerback Mansoor Delane. Stroman is one of the most talented safeties in the portal, though injuries are a concern.

When Stroman was healthy in 2023, he made 15 stops and allowed just eight catches. LSU may want to avoid taking a gamble, but Stroman offers an upside option.

LSU transfer safety Jardin Gilbert says he should have signed with Tigers out of high school

The Baton Rouge native said he made the wrong choice coming out of high school when he committed to Texas A&M.

LSU wasn’t nearly as aggressive in the transfer portal this offseason as it had been the prior two years, but it still managed to land a few impactful players.

One of the biggest additions has been safety [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], a Baton Rouge native who came in from Texas A&M. Gilbert considered the Tigers while playing high school ball right down the road at University High School, but he ultimately signed with the Aggies.

Gilbert said that is a decision he has come to regret, but he’s happy to be a part of the LSU program now.

“It’s a decision that I should’ve made in the beginning,” Gilbert said. “I’m grown enough to admit it. But it’s a blessing to be back home around my brothers and my family. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Gilbert has appeared in all six games this season, starting two of them. He’s made 15 tackles, notched half a sack and forced a fumble while intercepting a pass and defending three more.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Stock Up, Stock Down: LSU gets revenge against UCLA

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in the win over the Bruins.

Revenge is a dish best served in 97-degree heat in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After losing 38-27 to UCLA in 2021, the Tigers entered this game with revenge on their minds. LSU was able to accomplish that goal with a 34-17 victory over the Bruins.

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] had an incredible game for the Tigers, finishing the game 32-for-44 with 352 yards and three touchdowns. He was surgically picking apart the Bruins’ defense all day. The LSU defense also did a good job forcing turnovers against UCLA as the Tigers recovered a fumble and got an interception.

The biggest drawback of the day was that LSU sustained a few injuries. Hopefully, those injuries are just minor ones and won’t require the players to miss time.

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in this game.

Stock Up: Garrett Nussmeier

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

I’m just going to say it. [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is special. We have seen Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels play for LSU in the past few years and have been spoiled by incredible quarterback play. Nuss is continuing that tradition. He finished the day 32-for-44 for 352 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Stock Up: Mason Taylor

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

It’s always a great time to give the tight end some catches. [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] finished the day with eight receptions for 77 yards as he led the LSU receiving core in the win today.

Stock Up: Aaron Anderson

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] is stacking good weeks. He had a great game against South Carolina and followed it up with another solid game against UCLA. He finished with six receptions for 75 yards.

Stock Down: Injuries

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

One thing the Tigers did not need any more of was injuries. Unfortunately, [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the game with an injury. He wasn’t the only Tiger who was injured today as [autotag]Zay Alexander[/autotag], [autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag], and [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag] all suffered injuries as well.

Stock Up: Revenge

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Leading into the game this weekend, a lot of people talked about how LSU lost to UCLA on the road 38-27 in 2021. Brian Kelly helped lead the Tigers to a revenge win today in Baton Rouge.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Instant analysis from LSU’s Week 4 win over UCLA

The Tigers had another slow start, but they outscored the Bruins 17-0 in the second half to move to 3-1 on the year.

LSU had to battle a slow start once again on Saturday against UCLA in Week 4, but like in Week 3 against South Carolina, it overcame that. This time, the Tigers pulled away in the second half for a much more comfortable 34-17 win to move to 3-1 on the year.

LSU had some defensive struggles in the first half, particularly against the pass, but quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] got off to a hot start with a pair of first-half touchdown passes, including a 45-yard bomb to [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

And despite those defensive issues, the unit came up with some big, timely plays. The Tigers totaled four first-half sacks and recovered a fumble that led to a field goal.

However, the Bruins managed to drive down the field in the final minute, setting up a game-tying touchdown with two seconds to left as the teams entered the locker room tied at 17.

After getting a stop to start the second half, LSU was pinned at its four but responded with a 14-play, 96-yard drive capped off by a [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] touchdown to get back on top.

The Tigers would expand their lead early in the fourth despite starting the drive pinned at the eight when Nussmeier found freshman running back [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] on a 35-yard touchdown, most of which came after the catch.

Though LSU allowed a fairly efficient day from quarterback Ethan Garbers aside from a late interception from [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], it ultimately tightened up, pitching a second-half shutout while allowing fewer than 300 yards.

On the ground, the Bruins totaled just 14 yards on 22 carries while the Tigers sacked Garbers five times, including one from five-star true freshman [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag].

The defense did suffer a potentially significant loss in the fourth quarter as [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the game with a knee injury and was later ruled out. His status moving forward is unclear.

It was another big game for Nussmeier, who completed 32 of 44 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns. [autotag]Mason Smith[/autotag] (eight catches, 77 yards) and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] (six catches, 75 yards) paced the team through the air.

It wasn’t a particularly efficient game on the ground, but [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] was the standout with 62 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

The Tigers will play at home again next weekend against South Alabama before a bye. Then, a potentially top-five Ole Miss team comes to town in Week 7.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

LSU makes key change to depth chart ahead of Nicholls game

LSU makes a key update to its defensive depth chart prior to its Week 2 match vs Nicholls.

LSU football is making some adjustments after its week one loss to USC. Among those changes is an update to the depth chart at safety.

In a depth chart released prior to kickoff vs Nicholls State, [autotag]Dashawn Spears[/autotag] and [autotag]Kylin Jackson[/autotag] as starters. [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], LSU’s starting safeties in week one, are now listed with the second team.

Spears is a true freshman, but he turned heads throughout LSU’s fall camp. Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said last month that Spears would get a chance to play in 2024, so this comes as no surprise.

According to On3, Spears was a four-star recruit and a top 100 overall player in the 2024 class.

As for Jackson, he was a four-star and top 200 recruit in the class of 2023. He played just 14 defensive snaps as a freshman in 2023 but saw eight snaps against USC.

LSU’s secondary had some struggles last week with USC taking advantage of LSU’s safeties for some big plays.

https://twitter.com/Clukehubbard/status/1832537676362178710

Don’t expect Gilbert and Allen to disappear from the rotation. Allen flashed some talent last week, making four tackles and breaking up a pass.

LSU’s conference schedule gets underway next week so the staff could be using a game against an FCS team to get some run for the young guys.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

LSU cornerback Ashton Stamps explains why he chose to wear No. 1

Ashton Stamps wants a target on his back entering his sophomore season in 2024.

Despite having a new starting quarterback and two new starting receivers, perhaps the biggest question for LSU entering 2024 comes in the secondary.

The unit struggled mightily last fall but was playing quite a few young players. With development for those guys and the addition of a veteran transfer safety in [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], there’s optimism that the group will take a step forward.

Much of that optimism centers around sophomore [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag], who played in 11 games with four starts as a true freshman last fall.

Stamps has made a jersey number change and will now wear No. 1 in 2024. He said he wanted the number because he likes having a “target on (his) back.”

“It’s not really a responsibility, I’m the type, I like to thrive under pressure,” Stamps said. “So being able to have that No. 1, I know I’m going to have a target on my back and people are going to expect me to make plays, so that’s the type of stuff I like.”

Stamps also said that he admired the tradition of LSU players wearing No. 1 and wore it during his final season of high school ball.

“I look good in that 1,” he said.

If LSU’s defense is going to take a step forward under new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], it will likely be in part due to players like Stamps.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Is LSU safety Jordan Allen on the verge of a breakout in 2024?

Can LSU safety Jordan Allen emerge in 2024?

LSU showcased a new look defense on its first day of fall camp. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] was back with the cornerbacks, opening up a spot at safety.

With a spot open at safety, [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] slid in to take the first-team reps. Allen was a three-star in the class of 2022, Brian Kelly’s first signing class at LSU. The On3 Industry Rankings rated him as the No. 51 safety in the class and the No. 23 prospect in the state of Louisiana.

Allen didn’t play much as a freshman in 2022 and saw just 47 defensive snaps. That was enough to keep his redshirt. As a redshirt freshman last year, Allen saw a good bit action the back half of the season.

His 37 snaps against Florida in Week 11 were a career high. Allen struggled, posting a 50.4 PFF grade, but he continued to see time in November. Against Georgia State and Texas A&M, the results were better.

Allen rotated in against Wisconsin too, playing nine stops and notching a defensive stop.

LSU is thin in the secondary, especially at corner. That trickle down will affect will affect the safeties with Ryan needing to play corner.

Veteran safety [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] is moving to the star position, meaning LSU’s backend will have a different look this year. The Tigers landed former Texas A&M safety [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag] in the transfer portal, who brings starting SEC experience, but other than that, there are questions.

Allen could prove to be the answer. Even if he doesn’t assume a full time starting role, Allen looks to be factoring into Blake Baker’s defensive plans. LSU safety coach [autotag]Jake Olsen[/autotag] did good work with the safeties at Missouri and could be what this group needs to take a step forward.

Baker likes to play an aggressive style of defense. That will put pressure on the young secondary at times. If another safety emerges, that can help LSU limit the big plays allowed this fall.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

What is LSU’s biggest question mark entering the 2024 season?

LSU is hopeful that it will have another elite offense, but that won’t matter if the pass defense doesn’t take a major step forward.

LSU had one of the most electric college football offenses in recent years in 2023.

Quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] won the Heisman Trophy leading an electric group that featured a pair of first-round receivers in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] But in spite of that group being able to score at will, a preseason top-five LSU team finished just 10-3 and failed to repeat as SEC West champions.

If you watched that team, the reason for that is no mystery. The defense was abysmal in 2023 and proved to be particularly vulnerable against the pass. That group could improve in 2024 with new defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], but after adding just one key transfer in [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], who is expected to start at safety, the Tigers are really banking on development in the secondary.

On a team with a lot of questions, the pass defense was deemed the biggest by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.

The Tigers ranked 118th in the FBS last year in pass defense, allowing 255.6 yards per game, causing coach Brian Kelly to overhaul his defensive coaching staff heading into his third season at LSU. Kelly poached defensive coordinator Blake Baker from Missouri and brought back highly respected secondary coach Corey Raymond.

Seeing receivers run open in the spring game had to be concerning, but the Tigers feel like progress was made during the spring. LSU hopes Major Burns will be more comfortable at the hybrid star position, which will put him closer to the line of scrimmage, and Sage Ryan played better after moving from cornerback back to strong safety.

Only time will tell how much the offseason fixed the issues, but even with optimism surrounding LSU’s offense in 2024 with quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], the defense looks like it could be a limiting factor once again.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

LSU’s Dashawn McBryde named a top freshman defensive back by Phil Steele

The highest-rated defensive back in LSU’s 2024 class could make an instant impact for the Tigers.

When it comes to LSU’s secondary in 2024, the name of the game will be development.

The Tigers have some proven pieces, to be sure. Veteran transfer cornerback [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] was a bright spot when healthy last season, while safety [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] is coming off a career year and will be playing alongside an experienced transfer addition in [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag].

But elsewhere, LSU is hoping second-year players like [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] and [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] will take steps, and it could be relying on young players for depth as [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] seems to be pushing for a starting spot on the outside as a true freshman.

Woodland isn’t the only true freshman defensive back to watch out for, though. Safety [autotag]Dashawn McBryde[/autotag] was the top-rated defensive back in the Tigers’ class, and the Denham Springs native was named the No. 24 freshman defensive back in the country this season by Phil Steele.

McBryde was a top-100 prospect nationally and the No. 3 player in Louisiana coming out of high school. It remains to be seen if he can see the field early, but he could be part of the safety rotation as a true freshman.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

LSU’s defense ranks in the top 20 in College Football 25

The Tigers have a top 20 defense in the upcoming College Football 25 video game.

Anyone who watched the LSU Tigers in 2023 knows that the defense was not even close to being up to par.

It was one of the worst units in the SEC and proved to be a limiting factor as the team failed to return to Atlanta or make the College Football Playoff. Blake Baker is now in charge of the defense, and while there are star players like [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] and safety transfer [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], there are still plenty of questions.

In spite of those questions, EA Sports thinks it will be a pretty good unit this fall. It revealed the defensive ratings for the upcoming College Football 25 video game, and the Tigers rank in the top 20 at No. 18 with an 84 rating.

If the Tigers’ defense can take a leap, it could be a pretty successful season on the Bayou with high hopes for the offense, which EA ranked No. 6 in its team ratings.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno