Late on Tuesday Night, USF transfer Safety Tawfiq Byard picked the Colorado Buffaloes over LSU and Vanderbilt. Byard visited LSU last week but, like with safety Zechariah Poyser the Tigers didn't end up landing the commitment.
BREAKING: USF transfer Safety Tawfiq Byard has Committed to Colorado, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 25, 2024
The 6’1 200 Safety totaled 54 Tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 1 FR, & 1 INT this season
3 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/ISFLogWoNu
Byard is a solid player and could've slid right into the vacant spot at the star position as Major Burns is out of eligibility. While there is no short term apparent answer at safety for LSU, missing out on Byard isn't a massive deal.
The Tigers were early aggressors in the transfer portal filling need after need in the first week and a half. While that is when a majority of the transfers enter the transfer portal there still may be big names that enter the transfer portal. As teams lose next week in the College Football Playoff, we'll see another wave of players enter from their teams.
Next week, players from either Ohio State or Oregon, Georgia or Notre Dame, Texas or Arizona State, and Boise State or Penn State will all hit the transfer portal. These teams are all in the College Football Playoff for a reason as they're the rosters with the most talent. Most of these teams especially the Power Four teams are loaded with starting caliber defensive backs that could fill LSU's void at safety.
That period of waiting until the next round of the College Football Playoff is also after LSU will play Baylor in the Texas Bowl. The Texas Bowl will give LSU a chance to evaluate how younger safeties like DaShawn McBryde, Javien Toviano, Austin Ausberry, and even Michael Turner or Ju'Juan Johnson can play.
The same logic applies to the offensive line where LSU looks to add some starting caliber players as the Tigers look to replace four of five starters but, have added center Braelin Moore.