Tag: LSU Transfers

LSU true freshman receiver, former blue chip recruit enters transfer portal

A former top-70 recruit, Jalen Brown redshirted while appearing in three games in 2023.

Following the conclusion of LSU’s season with a 35-31 win over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Day, it saw the departure of two of the top signees in the 2023 class.

First was former five-star offensive tackle [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag], who signaled his decision when he didn’t travel with the team to Tampa. Next was former four-star receiver [autotag]Jalen Brown[/autotag], who entered just before the deadline on Tuesday night.

A top-70 prospect in the 2023 class from Gulliver Prep in Miami, Brown redshirted during his true freshman season while appearing in three games but recording no stats. He’ll have four remaining years of eligibility at his next stop.

It’s a blow to a Tigers receiver room that’s set to lose [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] It will return veterans [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] as well as another highly touted 2023 signee who redshirted in [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag]

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

BREAKING: Former 5-star LSU OT Lance Heard enters transfer portal

Lance Heard didn’t travel with the Tigers to Tampa for the ReliaQuest Bowl.

LSU managed to avoid any major losses in the transfer portal, but that changed on the final day before it closed.

On Tuesday, true freshman offensive tackle [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] announced his intentions to transfer from LSU after one season. The news wasn’t exactly a surprise as the former five-star recruit from Monroe didn’t travel with the team to Tampa for the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said that Heard —  who ranked as a top-15 prospect nationally coming out of high school — was evaluating his future with the program at the time. In 2023, he appeared in 12 games and made one start at right tackle.

LSU is expected to return both starting tackles in 2024 as [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] are not draft-eligible. Heard didn’t have a clear path to start, but losing the highest-rated recruit from the 2023 signing class will certainly hurt.

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

Former LSU cornerback Duce Chestnut returning to Syracuse

Duce Chestnut is going back to Syracuse after one season at LSU.

After one year at LSU in which he appeared in just four games, cornerback [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag] is returning to Syracuse.

One of the top additions in LSU’s transfer portal class last offseason, Chestnut was expected to occupy a starting role in the secondary this season.

However, he came off the bench in each of his four appearances before spending the rest of the season away from the team. Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] wouldn’t go into specifics on his absence or that of fellow transfer cornerback [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag], but he said he would meet with both following the regular season.

Last week, they both entered the transfer portal.

Chestnut started in 24 games for the Orange and was named a Freshman All-American and the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. He was also a two-time All-ACC selection, and now he’s rejoining a program that has a lot of momentum right now under new head coach and elite recruiter [autotag]Fran Brown[/autotag].

In one season with the Tigers, he had six total tackles with an interception.

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

Report: LSU cornerback Denver Harris is back in the transfer portal

Denver Harris appeared in the first five games, starting three, but he spent the remainder of the season away from the team.

After just one season at LSU, [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] is back in the transfer portal.

A former five-star prospect in the 2022 class who signed with Texas A&M, Harris was one of the most anticipated offseason additions in the Tigers’ transfer portal class ahead of this season.

The Houston native appeared in the first five games of the season, starting three of them, but he was sidelined for the rest of the year for undisclosed reasons. He previously dealt with disciplinary issues during his stint with the Aggies.

Harris’ departure isn’t exactly unexpected, especially as it comes just a day after cornerback [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag], another transfer who spent most of the year away from the team, re-entered the portal.

Harris totaled seven tackles in 2023 and defended two passes. He will have two remaining years of eligibility at his next stop.

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 2023 Transfer Portal Tracker: Keeping up with incoming and outgoing Tigers this offseason

Transfer portal season is in full swing around the country, and it’s no different at LSU.

The transfer portal era has descended upon college football, and we’re still reckoning with its consequences, both good and bad.

No matter where you fall on the issue, one thing is certain: Players now have unprecedented levels of agency, and they are taking full advantage of it. Programs around the country have seen top talent look for opportunities elsewhere, not just in the Group of Five but on high-level Power Five rosters as well.

LSU has been no exception. It’s already seen a handful of players announce their intentions to transfer, and that number is likely to increase as we get further into the offseason.

Here, we’ll keep track of every player that LSU has both lost and gained in the transfer portal. We will update this tracker as more decisions are made.

Updated 1/8

LSU cornerback Duce Chestnut re-enters the transfer portal

Duce Chestnut appeared in just four games during his lone season in Baton Rouge.

After spending one year at LSU, cornerback [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag] is back in the transfer portal, he announced via his Twitter account on Tuesday.

One of the most anticipated portal additions last offseason, Chestnut was a two-time All-SEC selection at Syracuse and was expected to take over a starting role this season.

Chestnut appeared in the first four games of the season, starting none of them, but he wouldn’t appear the rest of the year as coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was murky about his status aside from confirming he remained with the team.

Kelly said he would meet with both Chestnut and [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag], who was also away from the team for most of the year, following the season. Harris has not yet announced his intentions.

In four games with the Tigers this fall, Chestnut totaled six tackles (one for loss) an interception and a pass defended.

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 officially announces three transfers additions

LSU officially announced the addition of three transfers to the team for the 2024 season on Friday.

LSU Football just officially announced the addition of three transfers to the team for the 2024 season. The Tigers announced the addition of [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], a safety from Texas A&M, [autotag]AJ Swann[/autotag], a quarterback from Vanderbilt and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag], a wide receiver from Mississippi State.

Gilbert played in 25 games over three years for the Aggies as he made 79 tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and two interceptions. Gilbert is from White Castle, Louisiana, so he is returning to the boot to play his final year of college football.

Swann played in 15 games for the Vanderbilt Commodores and threw for 2,731 yards. 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Swann will bring a lot of experience to a talented quarterback room. He will join [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag] in pursuit of the starting quarterback job.

Thomas is another Louisiana man who had left the state to play at another SEC school but he is now returning home. In 22 games, Thomas caught 42 passes for 507 yards and one touchdown. He made plays on special teams as well as he returned 10 kickoffs for 297 yards and a touchdown and 29 punts for 365 yards and a touchdown.

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

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier addresses upcoming first start, addition of transfer AJ Swann

The Garrett Nussmeier era is set to begin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1.

With [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] officially announcing his decision to opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on Jan. 1, the [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] era is set to begin at LSU.

Nussmeier has seen some extended playing time in his three seasons with the Tigers, but the upcoming bowl game will be his first start as a college player. He said he’s excited to get the opportunity to lead this team.

“It’s been a long three years trying to stay patient and trust in the plan, trust in the process, trust in God’s plan,” Nussmeier said, per On3. “It’s a weird feeling, but I’m very excited. I’m more excited to get out there and play my best and show people what I can do and that I can lead this offense to its maximum potential.”

Nussmeier enters the 2024 season as the likely starter, but LSU did add some competition this offseason in the form of Vanderbilt transfer [autotag]AJ Swann[/autotag], who brings SEC starting experience to the table. Nussmeier said he’s glad the room is getting deeper and that he was aware LSU was looking at adding a transfer.

“It’s great for our room and I’m excited for him to get here,” Nussmeier said. “I don’t know what I’m allowed to say, but yes, I knew (they were looking at adding a transfer portal quarterback).”

Nussmeier is far from inexperienced. He’s appeared in 17 games for the Tigers and attempted 174 passes, of which he completed 56.3% for 1,325 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

But on Jan. 1, we’ll get our first look at Nussmeier in action over the course of an entire game.

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

Former LSU linebacker re-enters the transfer portal

Zavier Carter totaled 14 tackles in his one year at UNLV.

After one season at UNLV, former LSU outside linebacker [autotag]Zavier Carter[/autotag] is back on the market.

A former four-star recruit from Atlanta coming out of high school, Carter signed with LSU in 2021. In two years with the Tigers, he appeared in 18 games as a rotational player and totaled nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

He joined Barry Odom in Las Vegas this season, and while he was a part of a successful team overall, he was a rotational player once again and started just two of the 11 games he appeared in. Carter finished the 2023 season with 14 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Carter will now join his third team as he heads back into the transfer portal for the second offseason in a row.

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 defensive lineman enters transfer portal

A former three-star defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class has now entered his name into the transfer portal.

A former three-star defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class has now entered his name into the transfer portal.

[autotag]Tygee Hill[/autotag] is a 6-foot-3, 288-pound defensive lineman from New Orleans who committed to LSU out of Edna Karr High School in 2022. Hill appeared in nine games over two years for the Tigers and made three tackles.

The Tigers had nine defensive tackles on the roster this season and Hill was still talented enough to make an appearance in six games. He had his best game against Auburn where he made two tackles.

The Tigers have two defensive linemen commitments in the 2024 recruiting class, [autotag]Shone Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]De’Myrion Johnson[/autotag]. There are also a lot of players in the NCAA transfer portal that [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] could try to land to take the open roster spot.

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