LSU’s defense will look different when it faces Baylor in the Texas Bowl on New Year’s Eve. A flurry of exits on the defensive side of the ball has left the defense thin, especially in the secondary.
A good portion of the Tigers’ starters remain with the team, but depth will take a hit.
Options are limited if injury trouble bubbles up for LSU.
The chaos of transfer season can be difficult to keep up with. It’s almost impossible to remember who is coming and going with the constant shuffling.
Today, we’ll update LSU’s defensive depth chart to see what the Tigers are working with. The transfer portal isn’t closed yet — players can enter until Dec. 28.
But we have a good idea by now of who is playing. The same can be said for draft opt-outs. LSU’s offense will feel the loss of NFL draft declarations, but the defense is in good shape on that front.
Here’s LSU’s updated defensive depth chart.
Defensive Line
| Position | Starters | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive End | 35 – Sai’vion Jones (SR) | 19 – Gabriel Reliford (FR) |
| Defensive Tackle | 99 – Gio Paez (GR/TR) | 96 – Dominick McKinley (FR) |
| Defensive Tackle | 0 – Paris Shand (SR/TR) | 93 – Ahmad Breaux (FR) 95 – Shone Washington (RS SO/TR) |
| Defensive End | 4 – Bradyn Swinson (SR/TR) | 97 – Dylan Carpenter (RS FR) |
LSU’s biggest loss here is Da’Shawn Womack.
Womack wasn’t a major contributor, but he was part of the rotation for most of the season and his loss hurts LSU from a depth perspective at defensive end.
The good news: Bradyn Swinson and Sai’Vion Jones are both suiting up.
The defensive tackle group has a strong retention rate too.
Linebackers
| Position | Starters | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| WLB | 40 – Whit Weeks (SO) | 33 – West Weeks (SR/TR) |
| MLB | 18 – Greg Penn III (SR) | 42 – Davhon Keys (FR) |
With Whit Weeks leading the way, LSU’s linebacker room remains well positioned.
The emergence of Dahvon Keys could prove to be big heading into 2025, too.
Secondary
| Position | Starters | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Cornerback | 1 – Ashton Stamps (SO) | 21 – Michael Turner Jr. (FR) |
| Cornerback | 14 – Zy Alexander (SR/TR) | 11 – PJ Woodland (FR) |
| Strong Safety | 2 – Jardin Gilbert (RS JR/TR) | 25 – Javien Toviano (SO) |
| Free Safety | 10 – Dashawn Spears (FR) | 27 – Austin Ausberry (RS SO/TR) |
| Star | 8 – Major Burns (SR/TR) | — |
The top 2024 contributor absent here is Sage Ryan. After four years with the Tigers, Ryan hit the transfer portal and landed at Ole Miss. Aside from that, the starting lineup remains intact.
Alexander announced his intention to wear the LSU uniform one last time in the bowl game, before heading off to the NFL. LSU retaints Ashton Stamps and PJ Woodland, too.
However, if LSU were to lose Gilbert, Spears, or Burns at safety, the Tigers are in a precarious position at safety. Several backup safeties hit the transfer portal, leaving LSU with little depth at the position.