After a 9-4 season which marked the first season where Brian Kelly didn't win 10 games at LSU it was clear that the Tigers needed to go out and bring in some serious talent if the LSU Football team was going to compete for an SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff birth. Before the season even ended Brian Kelly made it clear that the LSU Football program was going to attack the transfer portal but, after Brian Kelly said that LSU wasn't in the market of buying players in the Spring LSU fans were skeptical.
What LSU fans didn't expect was the level of fundraising and buy-in the program would get in the offseason as Brian Kelly donated $1 million of his own money which led to the fanbase raising $3.2 million. The influx of resources allowed Brian Kelly and his staff to go out and piece together a team worthy of winning an SEC Championship and going on a deep run into the College Football Playoff.
Brian Kelly and his staff built a College Football Playoff contender in the Transfer Portal
Not only did LSU go out and bring in a massive transfer portal class but, almost every piece is a solid player and a player that will instantly have a role on the team. When you look at where LSU's additions rank in the transfer portal rankings, the Tigers signed 7 of the Top 100 transfers giving LSU an influx of elite talent.
Edge Rusher Patrick Payton is the crown jewel of LSU's transfer haul ranked as the 7th best player to transfer and the 2nd ranked edge rusher in the portal. Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson joins Payton as a Top-10 transfer ranked as the 9th best player and the 3rd best wide receiver to transfer. Anderson still has to return to his freshman form after missing the entire 2024 season with an injury but, he's a rare blend of size and speed with the chance to explode in 2025 with Garrett Nussmeier.
As LSU needs to replace 4 of 5 starting offensive linemen, the Tigers needed to bring in experienced pieces to help bring the younger players along. LSU landed the 16th ranked transfer and the 2nd ranked interior offensive lineman Josh Thompson beating Tennessee out for a massive transfer win. The Tigers then addressed the center position landing Virginia Tech center Braelin Moore the 4th ranked interior offensive lineman and 38th ranked player to transfer raising the floor of the offensive line.
As LSU needed to add additional weapons to surround Garrett Nussmeier with they landed an electrifying playmaker in Kentucky's Barion Brown. The 10th ranked wide receiver to transfer will impact the game as a returner and his ability in the receiving game will make him a big play threat especially if he can play opposite Chris Hilton Jr for most of the season.
LSU needed to further bulk up on the defensive front as the defensive line hasn't met the standard over the past few seasons. Bernard Gooden is the answer LSU fans have been begging for on the interior defensive line ranked as the 49th ranked player to transfer and the 4th ranked defensive tackle. Edge Rusher Jack Pyburn plays with the intensity setting the edge vs the rushing attack that LSU has significantly lacked in the past few seasons and will be a much welcomed addition to Baton Rouge.
Aside from 24/7 Sports rankings, there are a few pieces of LSU's transfer haul that rank much higher in On3's rankings. AJ Haulcy the latest addition for LSU is ranked as On3's 12th best player to transfer and the 2nd ranked safety to transfer which makes him their highest ranked addition in this class. LSU's need at safety is filled by On3's 29th ranked transfer Tamarcus Cooley who will likely fill the void at nickel.
Mansoor Delane will be starting on one side of the field at cornerback Week 1 vs Clemson ranked as the 87th ranked player in On3's rankings bringing a ton of experience and versatility to LSU's defensive backfield. Along with Delane, Florida Transfer Ja'Keem Jackson will compete for a starting role ranked as On3's 97th ranked transfer.
Finally, Oklahoma tight end Bauer Sharp (94th ranked) led the Sooners in receiving and transfers to LSU where he'll need to help fill the massive Mason Taylor sized hole in the offense.
Brian Kelly and his staff went out this offseason and did what the LSU fans have been begging for as they attacked the transfer portal with a purpose building a team capable of winning the SEC. The hope now for LSU fans is that the moves pan out as it could lead to the Tigers using the transfer portal aggressively on a yearly basis.