The roster is now set for the LSU Football team after a busy year in the transfer portal and the conclusion of spring practices. The Tigers used the transfer portal to build the most talented roster in the Brian Kelly era which has LSU fans thrilled for the 2025 season. While LSU has an exciting roster it’s a mix between the known commodities on this roster that have fans excited while there’s a ton of unknown pieces that will make an impact this season.
Heading into 2025, here are the 10 players LSU fans should be the most excited to watch this year.
As Corey Raymond came back to Baton Rouge it was clear that there was a significant drop off in the secondary while Raymond was at Florida. This spring, LSU needed to add talent in the secondary and the Tigers quickly landed Mansoor Delane who was one of the best cornerbacks in the ACC for Virginia Tech.
Delane will cross train at safety as well but, after Spring practice it’s clear that the transfer will be one of the Tigers starting cornerbacks. Before deciding to transfer Delane was considered to be an Early Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft giving LSU an elite level defensive back.
Anytime you sign a 5-star the fanbase is chomping at the bit to see that player on the field as soon as possible especially when it’s at a position of need. LSU signed a 5-star at its biggest position of need heading into last season in Dominick McKinley.
Given that McKinley wasn’t an early enrollee it took him some time to find a role on the team but once he did he showed why he was a 5-star recruit. McKinley quickly became LSU’s best pass rusher on the interior defensive line showing a ton of promise. McKinley now heads into his second season with a full offseason in the program under his belt which will help him take a massive leap in 2025
The question with Chris Hilton Jr is never over his talent as he's a massive weapon for LSU when he's healthy. If Chris Hilton Jr can stay healthy in 2025, he's shown that he can be a massive weapon when paired with Garrett Nussmeier as he caught 6 passes for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns during the final two games of the season.
LSU has a go to wide receiver out of the slot in Aaron Anderson and the Tigers added Nic Anderson on the outside giving the Tigers a massive size and speed threat. The biggest addition to compliment Chris Hilton Jr is Barion Brown as the two have elite top end speed which will cause nightmares for opposing defenses as they try to cover both deep.
This spring LSU put the exclamation mark on an incredible offseason haul by beating out the Miami Hurricanes for Houston safety AJ Haulcy. The Tigers’ struggles at cornerback weren’t helped by the fact that the safety play was just as bad if not worse the past two seasons.
Haulcy is the elite ball hawking safety that excels in coverage that the secondary has missed over the past few years. In 2024, Haulcy garnered an 85.5 PFF Coverage grade allowing just 159 yards while grabbing 5 interceptions with 6 pass breakups. Adding Haulcy to the defense gives the Tigers a player that can help cover up everyone else’s mistakes which should help if LSU starts a freshman cornerback.
After starting the season as the third linebacker, occasionally seeing the field, Whit Weeks ended the season as one of the best linebackers in the Country. Weeks was a tackling machine for the Tigers finishing the season with 120 tackles which is impressive considering he wasn’t an every down player for LSU to start the season. Weeks will be coming off of an injury which kept him out this spring but, another monster season should be on the way for the Junior linebacker.
As a True Freshman who enrolled in the summer, Caden Durham was still able to make an impact early in the season leading LSU in rushing while providing a spark in the receiving game. Durham rushed for 753 yards and 6 touchdowns averaging 5.4 yards per carry as a a True Freshman in the SEC while having a metal plate in his cleats after suffering a foot injury.
Heading into the 2025 season, all signs point toward Caden Durham putting together a massive season. If all goes well, Durham will be healthy and adds a full year in LSU's strength and conditioning program which will only improve his traits. The Tigers also hired Alex Atkins to help improve the rushing attack which should allow LSU to spring Durham for explosive runs more often than they did in 2024.
The moment LSU landed a commitment from the Nation's top cornerback DJ Pickett the LSU fans were ready to see him in action. After joining the team during Texas Bowl preparations and impressing during Spring practices, DJ Pickett looks to be in line to start Week 1 against Clemson. Pickett has length LSU hasn't had at cornerback since Greedy Williams and talent LSU hasn't had since Derek Stingley Jr which makes him easily one of the most exciting LSU recruits in a long time.
While other transfers are ranked higher, Barion Brown will be far and away the most electrifying transfer LSU landed and potentially the most exciting player LSU will have. Kentucky's quarterback problems kept Barion Brown from posting massive numbers but, he has top end speed and ability which will pair great with Garrett Nussmeier's ability to throw the deep ball.
Along with Brown's ability as a receiver he's one of the best kick returners in the country which will make for an exciting pairing with Zavion Thomas as teams will need to hope they can kick the ball out of the endzone. Brown's ability will give Joe Sloan plenty to work with and when he's on the field with Chris Hilton Jr it'll give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares.
During the Summer last year, Trey'Dez Green looked like a potential monster for LSU as he dominated camp making LSU fans think the Tigers would deploy him often as a true freshman. The problem with that plan was the fact that Mason Taylor was one of the best tight ends in the Country which made it difficult to get Green onto the field.
As Mason Taylor is off to the NFL, Trey'Dez Green has all of the talent to be one of the biggest playmakers on the team whether it's as a tight end or split out as a wide receiver. In the Texas Bowl, LSU got a great look at what Green could be this season as he caught 6 passes for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns. At tight end, Green will be a matchup nightmare for either linebackers or safeties which makes him a force for the Tigers.
The top player LSU fans have to be excited to watch in 2025 is Garrett Nussmeier based off of what he showed in 2024 paired with the potential he has to break out in 2025. The last two quarterbacks to return for a 2nd season as LSU's starting quarterback both won the Heisman Trophy and if Garrett Nussmeier continues the trend LSU is most likely a College Football playoff team and a contender for the SEC Championship.
Garrett Nussmeier looked like the best quarterback in the SEC at times in 2024 but, there were stretches where turnovers plagued LSU. Heading into 2025, LSU's wide receiver room is loaded with receivers that compliment Nussmeier's game and the rushing attack should be improved which will take pressure off of Nussmeier.