Pair of LSU offensive lineman plan to return in 2024

The Tigers will be bringing four of five starting offensive linemen back in 2024.

LSU is set to return four of its five starters along the offensive line.

Both starting guards [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] and [autotag]Miles Frazier[/autotag] plan to return to Baton Rouge in 2024 despite being draft-eligible, they reportedly told On3’s Shea Dixon. With tackles [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] not being draft-eligible, center [autotag]Charles Turner[/autotag] is the only starter who won’t be back next season.

The pair has seen a lot of action in the last few seasons. Dellinger has started 23 of 34 games he’s appeared in over the last three seasons, including all 13 this past fall. Frazier, meanwhile, is a transfer from Florida International and has started all but one of the 26 games he’s appeared in since joining the Tigers in 2022.

LSU has seen some losses along the offensive line as [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] entered the portal and [autotag]Mason Lunsford[/autotag] retired, but it brings back a lot of starting experience and a promising young center in [autotag]DJ Chester[/autotag], who will likely replace Turner.

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Veteran LSU offensive lineman announces retirement from football

Mason Lunsford appeared in six games this fall as a transfer from Maryland.

LSU offensive lineman [autotag]Mason Lunsford[/autotag] is stepping away from the game of football.

The junior from Knoxville, Iowa, announced his decision to retire from the sport on Tuesday in a post on Twitter/X. A transfer addition from Maryland this past offseason, Lunsford started 26 of 29 games he appeared in over four years with the Terrapins.

He came to LSU to compete for a starting spot, but he only saw action in six games as a backup guard while making no starts.

“I’m done playing football and excited to begin the next chapter of my life,” Lunsford said in a statement. “Thank you God for giving me the ability and opportunity to play football. I’ve met so many incredible people across my football career and I want to thank all of you for your role in helping me become the man I am today.”

Despite Lunsford’s departure, the offensive line appears to be a strength in 2024 as the Tigers will bring back four of five starters.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 78 Mason Lunsford

Mason Lunsford is a transfer who comes to LSU after playing for Maryland for four years where he played in 29 games.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re going to be checking out one of the newer offensive linemen on the team. He may be new, but he has a lot of experience. [autotag]Mason Lunsford[/autotag] is a transfer who comes to LSU after playing for Maryland for four years where he played in 29 games.

Mason Lunsford Preseason Player Profile

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 53 Martin Lunsford

Martin Lunsford joined the Tigers as a walk-on following the addition of his brother, transfer offensive lineman Mason Lunsford.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re now looking at a walk-on true freshman offensive lineman in [autotag]Martin Lunsford[/autotag] who came as a package deal with his brother, [autotag]Mason Lunsford[/autotag]. A starter at Maryland, Mason transferred to LSU this past offseason. Martin committed to the Tigers as a walk-on the same day, and the Maryland native will hope to earn a scholarship.

Martin Lunsford Preseason Player Profile

LSU lands Maryland offensive line transfer with starting experience

Mason Lunsford started 26 games for the Terrapins in four years.

The Tigers added to what is already one of their more talented groups on Tuesday, signing Maryland offensive line transfer [autotag]Mason Lunsford[/autotag].

A native of Olney, Maryland, the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Lunsford played four years with the Terrapins, making 26 starts in 29 appearances. He started all 13 games at left guard as a sophomore in 2021, and he made 10 starts in 2022 while not allowing a sack on 381 pass-blocking opportunities.

LSU returns four of its five starters along the offensive line, including two starters on the interior in [autotag]Miles Frazier[/autotag] and [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag]. Still, the Tigers lost a lot of their depth there to the portal and adding a player like Lunsford shores the group up quite a bit.

He will have two remaining years of eligibility.

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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

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Big Ten transfer lineman to visit Notre Dame this weekend

Who do you expect to start at guard in 2023?

Notre Dame isn’t done exploring adding via the transfer portal ahead of the 2023 football season after all.  Mason Lunsford, an offensive guard who previously at Maryland, is set to make an official visit to Notre Dame this weekend.  Lunsford has two seasons of eligibility remaining at wherever his next stop ends up being.

Lunsford stands at 6-7, 305-pounds.  He started 23 games over the past two seasons at Maryland and according to Pro Football Focus, didn’t allow a single sack in 11 games in 2022.

Lunsford told On3 that he has visits to both Arkansas and LSU set up after he checks out Notre Dame this weekend.

Lunsford attended Olney Good Counsel high school in Maryland where he was teammates with Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart before enrolling as part of Maryland’s 2019 recruiting class.

As it stands right now, Notre Dame has 94 players on scholarship.  That’s a number they need to get down to 85 by the day fall semester classes begin.

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Former Rutgers football recruit Mason Lunsford, a multi-year Big Ten starter at left guard, enters the transfer portal

Big Ten offensive lineman Mason Lunsford is in the transfer portal.

One of the steadiest and most consistent offensive linemen in the Big Ten over the past two years, Mason Lunsford has entered the transfer portal. Lansford was a multi-year starter for Maryland along the interior offensive line.

As a member of the 2019 recruiting class, Lunsford was recruited but not offered by the previous Rutgers football coaching staff. He is 6-foot-7 and 305 pounds with the ability to pull effectively and move well in the open field.

He is able to play offensive tackle or either guard position. He got the majority of his snaps last season at left guard. Lunsford enters the transfer portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

In 2021, Lunsford made 13 starts at left guard. In 2022, he was named Honorable Mention in the 2022 PFF College Preseason All-Big Ten Team.

Lunsford played his high school football at Good Counsel (Olney, MD). He was ranked the No. 25 player in the state in the 2019 recruiting class according to 247Sports. He held Power Five offers from Maryland and Virginia as well as programs such as Air Force, Army and UMass.

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Last season, the majority of left guard snaps at Rutgers fell to J.D. DiRenzo, who made nine starts at the position. DiRenzo came to Rutgers in the transfer portal from FCS program Sacred Heart.

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His lone season at Rutgers was an unquestioned success, being named the MVP on offense and being invited to the Hula Bowl, a prominent postseason all-star game for seniors.

This offseason, Rutgers restructured their coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball, appointing Kirk Ciarrocca as the new coordinator. Part of that reshuffling included the addition of Pat Flaherty as offensive line coach.

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Flaherty’s first NFL job was in 2000 as tight ends coach of the Washington Commanders. In 2004, he became the offensive line coach of the New York Giants where he spent 12 seasons with the franchise and won two Super Bowl titles.

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