In the new world of college football, transfer portal additions and subtractions factor into every team's roster makeup each season. Schools are pouring more and more resources into roster construction, and the transfer portal plays a huge role in that.
This offseason, LSU brought in the top transfer portal class in the country. There are plenty of new faces in Baton Rouge, and fans have high hopes that the influx of talent can lead to a big season. With that being said, over 20 players decided to transfer away from LSU following the 2024 season. Here are three who may be thinking twice about that decision in 2025.
Rickie Collins - Quarterback - Syracuse Orange
Collins' tenure at Syracuse is already off to a rough start. He was named the starting quarterback by head coach Fran Brown in April, but he's since lost that role in gut-wrenching fashion. Former Notre Dame QB Steve Angeli transferred to Syracuse following spring practices, and after battling with Collins in fall camp, Angeli will get the starting nod in Syracuse's season opener against No. 24 Tennessee this Saturday.
It's a tough blow for Collins, who thought he had the QB1 job locked up. It was reported that he still played well in camp despite losing out on the starting job, and it remains possible that he sees the field at some point this season. But as it stands, his change of scenery to Upstate New York hasn't gone as planned.
CJ Daniels - Wide Receiver - Miami Hurricanes
Daniels was one of four LSU receivers to total 400+ yards last season. He would have been the second-leading receiver on the team if he came back. A 1,000-yard receiver at Liberty in 2023, Daniels could've taken a big step forward for the Tigers in 2025. Instead, he heads to Miami (FL) to catch passes from Carson Beck. Things didn't work out for Beck at Georgia, and there are some uncertainties about Miami's offense heading into 2025 with him at the helm.
There are far fewer question marks for the LSU passing offense, as the Tigers are led by returning starter and potential top-ten draft pick Garrett Nussmeier. With that being said, Daniels has a chance to be a true WR1 in Miami, and can be an unquestioned leader in a young WR room. He just may miss being apart of LSU's potent passing attack.
Jay'Viar Suggs - Defensive Tackle - Wisconsin Badgers
LSU lost four starters on the defensive line this past offseason. After playing in all 12 regular season games last season, Jay'Viar Suggs could have worked his way into a starting role. However, he transferred to Wisconsin to play for Luke Fickell. Suggs has plenty of experience under his belt, as he logged four seasons at Grand Valley State before playing for the Tigers in 2024. That experience could have helped his cause when competing for a starting job for the Tigers. LSU brought in defensive line reinforcements through the transfer portal, but Suggs' decision to leave Baton Rouge for Madison when LSU was in need of DL help was a bit peculiar.