Where did On3 rank LSU in terms of addressing transfer portal needs?
Earlier this week, On3 released its list of teams that addressed their most glaring needs in the transfer portal.
LSU is one of four SEC teams listed among the 10. Auburn, Georgia and Oklahoma were mentioned as well as Duke and Miami out of the ACC. Illinois and Nebraska represented the Big 10 while Colorado, Texas Tech rounded out the group.
LSU pulled in the No. 6 transfer class, according to On3, which includes six four-stars. 19 transfers signed with the Tigers, including the No. 16 and 17 overall players in wide receivers Nic Anderson and Barion Brown.
It’s worth noting On3’s rankings also take into account how much talent a team lost.
In On3’s article, the work LSU did to bolster its defense was recognized. Considering its losses to the NFL and portal, the Tigers made up a lot of ground to bring in experienced pieces.
“Edge rusher Jack Pyburn broke out during the second half of 2024 season at Florida and he should be a good scheme fit for [defensive coordinator] Blake Baker’s defense.”
Due to starting defensive backs [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] and [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] moving on, LSU needed to reload its secondary and it did just that.
Here’s what Brian Kelly said about LSU’s defensive performance in the Texas Bowl
LSU football led Baylor by 17 points at halftime of the Kinder’s Texas Bowl, but the Bears cut the lead to 10 in the third quarter.
The Tigers, tasked with replacing multiple starters on defense, embodied a “bend, don’t break” philosophy en route to a 44-31 win.
Led largely by safeties [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] and [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], LSU prevented the big play. The two tied for the team lead in solo tackles with six tackles apiece, according to PFF.
Gilbert, in particular, came up with two key stops on late downs.
“I thought when we did a really good job late in the game, in the third and fourth quarters, eliminating the run game, they [the Bears] were up against it because the passing game then becomes one where we could play a lot more quarters coverage and get off playing man coverage,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said.
Shrinking the field and secondary players making open-field tackles have been points of emphasis for Kelly all season. Without [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] or [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag], Gilbert was the lone safety with experience, while sophomore Toviano got his first real game time as a starter.
Once the Tigers thwarted Baylor’s ground game, they focused on defending quarterback Sawyer Robertson through the air in zone coverage.
According to GameOnPaper, LSU held Baylor to -0.29 EPA per rush — one of the Tigers’ best marks of the year.
Baylor’s red zone success rate was 33% and reflected the secondary’s work in small-field situations.
“When the field began to shrink, our safeties could be flat-footed and really squeeze those routes,” Kelly said. “It was hard for them to put the ball in the end zone because of that.”
Texas Bowl Preview: Three things to watch for when LSU takes on Baylor
The countdown is on for LSU football’s game against Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
The 8-4 Tigers can end the season on a three-game win streak with a victory over the Bears in Houston. Following a midseason skid where it lost three straight SEC games, LSU recovered to defeat Vanderbilt and Oklahoma in Death Valley.
Since its final game, the Tigers saw parts of its roster depart for the NFL Draft and enter the transfer portal. They will be without three starting offensive linemen and its top two receiving threats, along with both starting defensive ends.
Head coach Brian Kelly’s team made several transfer portal acquisitions, but now is the time for the current roster to make a lasting impression heading into the offseason.
Baylor brings almost its full roster to Tuesday’s contest, with the exception of a starting safety and defensive end depth piece, both of whom entered the portal. By ending the regular season on a six-game win streak, the Bears bring a heap of confidence into the matchup. Will it be enough to defeat LSU?
Here are three things to watch in the Texas Bowl between LSU and Baylor.
LSU’s passing attack
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Garrett Nussmeier will play quarterback for LSU after announcing his return for the 2025 season. But who will catch the passes?
The gunslinger’s two favorite targets in Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor declared for the NFL Draft. Three wide receivers and a tight end entered the portal, leaving a relatively inexperienced group of pass catchers.
Baylor doesn’t boast a high-powered passing defense, which may give the Tigers time to establish rhythm distributing the ball. [autotag]Chris Hilton[/autotag] hauled in two catches for two touchdowns of 40+ yards and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] could continue his breakout campaign as well.
A key to success in the passing game is the offensive line’s ability to protect Nussmeier. It will be playing without its two starting tackles and a starting guard as it attempts to hold a Baylor defensive line in check that boats one of the best interiors in the Big 12.
Baylor Run Game
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For the Bears’ offense to be successful, it must establish the run with Bryson Washington. He finished sixth in the Big 12 with 1,004 rushing yards and averages 5.9 yards per carry. Dawson Pendergrass also has 100 attempts on the season and averages 6.1 yards per carry.
A point of emphasis for Kelly on defense was for the secondary to shorten the field and make open-field tackles. With [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] entering the portal and [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] opting out, the Tigers will be without two of its veteran defenders. Up front, defensive ends Bradyn Swinson and Sai’Vion Jones are slated to play.
Washington is hard to take down as he averages 4.13 yards after contact, good enough for third in the Big 12. LSU needs to make contact early to combat the run while also relying on a young group of safeties to lock down in pass defense. True freshmen Da’Shawn Spears and Javien Toviano will be the two players to watch for the Tigers.
Special Team Battle
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Since Kelly’s arrival to Baton Rouge, he’s aimed to strengthen the special teams units in order to make game-changing plays. The units, especially in punt returns, will need to lock in for the contest against the Bears.
Baylor allows just 5.9 yards in punt returns per game while averaging 20.67 yards itself. Josh Cameron returned 14 punts for 290 yards, averaging 20.71 yards per return. He took one for 73 yards.
That success extends to kickoffs as well. In 2024, Jamaal Bell returned one for a touchdown and averaged 24.5 yards per return through 20 attempts. Punter Palmer Williams averages 49.61 per kick and had 21 go for over 50 yards. He totaled 2,034 punting yards on the season.
Should LSU need to punt the ball often, it needs to stay disciplined in its defense and make tackles early to eliminate the Bears’ threats in the return game. Winning the field position battle through special teams will give the Tigers an even better chance to end their season on a high note.
LSU will be without a veteran leader on defense when it takes the field in the bowl game
LSU will be without one of its senior leader on defense when the Tigers face Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Safety[autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] did not travel to Houston with the team, according to practice reports. That officially marks the end of Burns’ LSU career as he begins preparation for a shot at the NFL.
Depth in the secondary was already thin due to a handful of transfer portal exits. LSU will now be without[autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] and Burns — the two led LSU’s safety group in snaps and were two of the most experienced players on this defense.
LSU will still have veteran safety[autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], but much of the weight will be placed on the young guns.
Expect to see more of DaShawn Spears and Javien Toviano in Burns and Ryan’s place.
Spears, a true freshman and top 100 recruit, played 178 snaps in the regular season. Toviano played 49 snaps as a sophomore, but saw significant time as a true freshman in 2023.
Toviano could be a fit for the STAR position vacated by Burns while Spears plays in place of Ryan.
LSU relies on the safety group to lead much of the pre-snap communication. Earlier in the season, LSU opted to give the green dot to Ryan, allowing the sideline to communicate with Ryan. We’ll see if that responsibility shifts back to a linebacker.
The bowl game will be a chance for LSU to look at younger players all over the field. The safety position is especially important with LSU yet to land a transfer at the position.
The group seen on Tuesday could be the one LSU trots out in 2025.
These five Tigers have something extra to prove when LSU takes on Baylor
LSU football will face Baylor on Tuesday in the Texas Bowl. The Tigers will look different than the team we last saw take the field vs. Oklahoma.
Both of LSU’s starting tackles, Will Campbell and Emery Jones, opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, as did tight end Mason Taylor.
CJ Daniels won’t suit up at wide receiver as the senior wide receiver transferred to Miami.
On defense, most of the starting lineup is intact, but safety Sage Ryan is no longer with LSU after hitting the transfer portal. Backup defensive end Da’Shawn Womack is gone, too. Both transferred to Ole Miss.
LSU’s depth in the secondary took a hit, with a handful of backups entering the portal. LSU can’t afford injuries on defense in this game with the roster thinning out.
With players leaving, some fresh faces will get an opportunity, especially on the offensive line.
Here are five LSU football players who can seize on the opportunity in the Texas Bowl.
Wide receiver Chris Hilton
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
With CJ Daniels entering the transfer portal and Kyren Lacy potentially opting out, LSU needs Hilton to step up at wide receiver.
The former four-star recruit from 2021 entered 2024 with high hopes but was hampered by an injury and struggled upon returning.
In LSU’s regular-season finale vs. Oklahoma, Hilton got his feet under him. Nussmeier connected with Hilton on two long touchdowns, giving LSU the deep threat it needed all year.
Kelly talked about Hilton at length after the OU win.
“He was out for eight weeks, and it takes a while to get back into rhythm,” Kelly said. “We either missed him on overthrows, or the timing wasn’t quite where it needed to be. It normally takes about four weeks to get that.”
“The deep threat has been missing from our offense. Teams have sat down on us, teams have made it difficult for us because we haven’t had that vertical threat,” Kelly added.
Hilton will get a chance to keep it rolling vs. Oklahoma. Aaron Anderson attacking teams underneath, with Hilton providing a threat over the top, will make this offense hard to stop.
Guard Bo Bordelon
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LSU’s offensive line thinned out with Campbell and Jones declaring for the NFL draft. Bordelon will be a beneficiary of that, likely making his first career start.
Bordelon is expected to slide in at right guard, with Miles Frazier bumping out to right tackle.
Bordelon played 15 snaps in 2022, 62 in 2023, and 46 this fall. He could match those totals in the bowl game alone. LSU made an effort to get him on the field in 2024, putting him in No. 89 and creating an extra blocker at tight end.
With a strong performance, Bordelon could stake his claim on a bigger role entering 2025.
With [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] opting out, [autotag]Tyree Adams[/autotag] slides out to guard. We saw Adams in limited action at guard this fall, but now he gets a chance to prove he’s the future at left tackle.
According to PFF, Adams played 78 offensive snaps and posted an offensive grade of 53.9 in 2024. He missed a chunk of time as he dealt with a midseason injury.
Adams didn’t allow a sack over 47 pass block snaps in 2024. It’s not fair to expect a perfect performance from a player making his first-start at tackle, but at 6’7′, Adams has the tools to play the position.
Linebacker Davhon Keys
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LSU’s linebacking group remains stable, but Keys was carving out playing time as the regular season drew to a close. With senior [autotag]Greg Penn[/autotag] moving on after the bowl game, Keys may be the future at middle linebacker.
With a few more weeks of practice under his belt, Keys could be in line for more time against Baylor.
He made starts against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, playing 46 and 59 snaps in those games, respectively. He recorded a sack vs. the Sooners and missed just one tackle over the two games.
Keys is looking to put an exclamation point on his strong true freshman campaign.
Safety Dashawn Spears
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Like Keys, Spears is another true freshman that made an immediate impact on defense in 2024. Per the On3 Industry Rankings, Spears was a top 100 recruit and the No. 5 ranked safety in the class.
Spears played 178 snaps this fall. Only 8 freshman safeties in the Power Four have played more. There was some inconsistency as LSU’s entire safety room struggled, but Spears was targeted just four times in 94 coverage snaps, allowing one catch.
Spears was heavy in the rotation in September, but was phased out near the end of the regular season. With [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] in the transfer portal, Spears gets another chance vs. Baylor.
LSU is yet to sign a safety out of the transfer portal. A nice showing from Spears would keep LSU feeling good about the potential of its 2025 secondary.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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 is shuffling its secondary again in the bye week.
LSU experimented with its secondary throughout the first five weeks of the year. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] began the year at corner before moving to safety. [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] played the STAR spot until LSU wanted three linebackers on the field, pushing Burns to safety.
During the bye week, LSU is continuing to shuffle some pieces. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] is going to play STAR the rest of the way. This should bring some stability after Toviano’s bounced around from corner to safety to nickel since arriving at LSU.
Kelly said LSU coaches think Toviano is better close to the line of scrimmage. Toviano at STAR puts him in a position to be athletic and make plays. With Toviano at STAR, LSU has the flexibility to play Burns at safety again.
Toviano was a blue-chip recruit in 2023 and played as a true freshman last year, but he’s yet to see much action in 2024. If Toviano settles in at STAR, more playing time could be in the fold.
Javien Toviano is going to play Star the rest of the season, Brian Kelly said, after LSU coaches talked this week about settling his position. They think he’s better closer to the line of scrimmage, and that would let Major Burns move back to safety again if necessary.
Overall, LSU’s secondary is playing better than it did to start 2023, but the Tigers still rank 111th nationally, allowing 8.1 yards per pass. LSU’s next test is Ole Miss, which gave LSU plenty of trouble through the air last year.
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The Tigers are a bit banged up heading into their SEC opener on Saturday.
LSU will begin SEC play on Saturday in Columbia against South Carolina, and it will be a bit shorthanded.
According to the Tigers’ pregame availability report, starting receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and starting safety [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] are out for Saturday’s game. For Hilton, it will mark his third straight missed game to begin the season.
[autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] wasn’t listed on the availability report and will likely make the start in Hilton’s place after missing last week’s game. Without Allen, the Tigers will likely turn to [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag], who moved back to safety this week, to fill in.
Edge rusher [autotag]Da’Shawn Womack[/autotag] is also out, while [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] was listed as probable and [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] remains questionable.
LSU’s defense will look different when it meets South Carolina on Saturday morning.
As LSU enters conference play against South Carolina, the Tigers are tinkering with the defensive personnel.
The most notable of which is at the linebacker spot, where LSU will showcase more 4-3 looks. Expect to see [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] and [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] on the field together.
LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Weeks is too good to be a rotational player, indicating he’s too good to keep off the field.
In those 4-3 looks, LSU has the option to move [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] to safety, his traditional position. Burns has played DC Blake Baker’s STAR spot so far in 2024.
Another change is increased playing time for [autotag]Dashawn Spears[/autotag]. The four-star true freshman continues to draw rave reviews and it’s getting harder for LSU to keep him off the field.
LSU will have to balance that with [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] moving. The return of cornerback [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] provides LSU with a veteran option on the outside and the Tigers feel more comfortable bumping Ryan back to safety.
Another beneficiary of Ryan’s move is [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag]. The true freshman corner played just nine snaps against USC but got the start in Week 2 and played 26 snaps vs. Nicholls.
On the defensive line, following the injury to [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], LSU is moving [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] back inside. Shand played defensive tackle at Arizona before shifting to defensive end when arriving at LSU. But LSU needs the depth up the middle and Shand has the size to make an impact at the position.
The general takeaway is LSU finding a way to get its best 11 players on the field, even if it means making some moves.
LSU fans will get their first look at the changes when LSU and South Carolina kick it off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday morning.
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Can LSU get it going on the ground? How does LSU manage personnel on defense? Here’s what to watch for when LSU faces South Carolina.
2024 continues to be a mirror image of 2023 for the LSU Tigers football team.
Both years opened with a neutral site loss on Sunday night to a big-name opponent. Both seasons followed that up with a Week 2 win over a Louisiana FCS school. Now, Week 3 features an SEC road trip against a team projected to finish near the bottom of the SEC.
Last year it was Mississippi State. This year, LSU travels further east to face South Carolina.
According to BetMGM, LSU is a seven-point favorite. A smaller line than the double-digit look-ahead spread posted in the summer. The loss to USC and first-half struggles against Nicholls brought the skeptics out, but head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] reiterated his confidence in this team.
South Carolina shouldn’t be a measuring stick for LSU, but the Tigers need to show they can take care of business on the road against a less talented squad.
Here’s what to watch for when LSU and South Carolina kick off on Saturday.
When LSU has the ball
When LSU’s on offense, I’ll be looking for two things:
Can LSU run the ball?
Can LSU generate explosive plays?
The fact that we have to ask the first question is a surprise. LSU’s offensive line was projected to be one of the nation’s best, and while it has held up in pass protection, LSU is yet to get a consistent push on the ground.
LSU ranks 112th nationally in rushing success rate and 89th with 3.93 yards per carry. Both marks are below the gaudy numbers posted last year and short of what’s expected of a team with this much talent.
The Tigers miss [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ dual-threat ability and lack a feature running back, but with two first-round tackles and veteran guards, the offensive line should be creating lanes.
South Carolina’s defensive front is strong, but it’s better at rushing the passer than it is at stopping the run. The Gamecocks stuff rate is in the 23rd percentile and their EPA/rush allowed is slightly above average.
If LSU can’t run the ball on Saturday, it signals concern for the remainder of 2024.
As for the second question, LSU needs to be more explosive. The Tigers are one or two more explosive plays from being 2-0. LSU struggled in the red zone vs. USC and the easiest way to fix that is scoring before you even get there.
LSU’s offense made its living on deep shots to [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] in 2023. I understand the personnel is different, but Nussmeier has the arm to push it down the field.
With a defense that’s still finding its way, LSU needs to be explosive enough to keep up in a potential shootout.
Following the USC loss, Kelly said LSU needs to keep [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] involved throughout the game. We’ll see if OC [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] dials anything up for his top receiver on Saturday.
When South Carolina has the ball
That Week 3 game against Mississippi State was LSU’s best defensive performance in 2023. The Tigers took advantage of a defense that wasn’t as talented.
It didn’t mean much the rest of the year as the unit regressed back to what it was in the Week 1 loss to Florida State, but it showed LSU had the pieces to bully a less talented team.
LSU hopes for a similar result tomorrow.
South Carolina’s offense struggled last year and then lost Spencer Rattler and Xavier Leggette — its top two players. Rebuilding a unit is hard, especially when you lose the stars.
LaNorris Sellers took over for Rattler and is yet to show anything particularly impressive. The offensive line is improved, but they didn’t have to do much to cross the low bar set in 2023. When it comes to the pass catchers, South Carolina is still searching for the next WR1 after Leggette’s departure.
This is the rare opportunity for the LSU defense to face an SEC offense with an equal amount of questions and concerns.
I’ll be keeping an eye on how LSU manages its personnel. Kelly said that linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is too good to keep off the field and we could see [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] play some safety, allowing LSU to get three backers on the field.
On the backend, [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] is expected to play safety, opening time for [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] and [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] at corner.
LSU needs to ensure this isn’t the game South Carolina figures it out. The Tigers have the talent and speed to get stops here.
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