Brian Kelly and Blake Baker revamped the LSU secondary this past offseason with the addition of several impact playmakers through the transfer portal. Most notably, CB Mansoor Delane, S AJ Haulcy, and S Tamarcus Cooley are all taking on big roles in their first seasons with the Tigers.
At the cornerback position, Delane, as well as true freshman DJ Pickett and sophomore PJ Woodland, are all playing at extremely high levels. That means that junior CB Ashton Stamps has been the odd man out.
Stamps has seen very limited playing time this season, appearing in just three games. On Wednesday, it was announced that Stamps was leaving the team and is expected to enter the transfer portal. He is no longer listed on LSU's official roster.
Ashton Stamps leaves LSU looking for a new opportunity
Stamps played a key role for the Tigers over his two seasons in Baton Rouge. He appeared in 11 games and made four starts as a true freshman in 2023, collecting 23 tackles and a pair of passes defended. He shined in his sophomore campaign in 2024, finishing 3rd in the SEC with 14 passes defended. He started all 13 games while also seeing plenty of action on special teams.
It was a bit surprising to see Stamps' role so diminished, but it really says more about LSU's influx of talent with Delane and Pickett than it does about Stamps. The additions to Delane and Pickett, as well as the emergence of Woodland, gave Stamps little opportunity in LSU's cornerback room this season. Delane is arguably the best cornerback in the country and is trending toward being a First Round draft pick. Pickett is among the best true freshmen in all of college football, and appears to be a star in the making.
Now that Stamps has left the team, it will be interesting to see where he ends up. He has the talent and experience to play a big role for a power conference team. The transfer portal led to Stamps missing out on opportunities at LSU, but it could open up another door for him elsewhere.