Brian Kelly doesn’t need to use the transfer portal like Lane Kiffin, but LSU still needs key players

The LSU Football team's loss to Florida has the fanbase and the Coaching Staff looking toward the offseason and the 2025 season. LSU will likely lose Will Campbell, Emery Jones, Mason Taylor, Zy Alexander, Bradyn Swinson, and Kyren Lacy to the NFL Draft along with a few other with big decisions to make. The losses will take away some of LSU's biggest impact players leaving big shoes to fill.

Most fans were hoping that Brian Kelly would change his mind on the Transfer Portal looking to go big game hunting. When speaking to the media on Monday Brian Kelly gave his take on the Transfer Portal and some insight into how LSU may use it.

"The transfer portal will not go away and it will be something we have to investigate and look at. I do not want a program that is built on the portal. We have to rely on young players, we are playing a lot of young players right now. We have 19 coming in at mid-semester so we're still going to be playing some younger players but there needs to be the right mix and balance. The transfer portal will be examined closely and if we feel like there's a particular need to balance our football team, we're going to invest in that"

- Brian Kelly

The biggest phrase in what he says is that he doesn't want to be a program that's built on the Transfer Portal. The issue with what Kelly's saying is that no one is asking for him to build the team around the transfer portal.

This offseason, Lane Kiffin brought in 25 players via the Transfer Portal, which is far too high for LSU considering how LSU recruits out of High School. The way you'd like to see Brian Kelly use the transfer portal like Kiffin did is by identifying an area the team needed to get better in and loading up on top talent.

Kiffin realized Ole Miss couldn't beat Georgia as they were built in the trenches so he went out and brought in top defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen who made massive plays against Georgia and this whole season. He also realized he needed more firepower on offense so he brought in Wide Receiver Juice Wells who gave Ole Miss a touchdown in that game.

LSU fans aren't asking Brian Kelly to go out and land 25 players that may or not make a big impact but, they're asking for the handful of high impact players that can start and bridge the gap as the recruits get experience.

Where Brian Kelly should attack needs in the portal

On the offensive line, LSU will most likely lose four of its five starters, while LSU has some good players in the pipeline it would be great to land some experience in that group. LSU has had issues with the play at safety, rather than grabbing a player with experience like they have why not pursue a true difference maker in the secondary. Kyren Lacy and CJ Daniels both may leave which gives LSU a need at receiver and why shouldn't the Tigers go get an elite game changing receiver. Edge Rushers Bradyn Swinson, Sai'Vion Jones, and Harold Perkins Jr are all likely off to the NFL and it would be massive if LSU can get a difference maker that draws double teams up front.

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