Brian Kelly explains how LSU balanced transfers and high school signees

New LSU head coach Brian Kelly held a press conference to introduce his defensive staff on Wednesday, but also addressed questions about the balance created by transfers and high school recruits. With 13 transfers incoming and 15 recruits from the 2022 class, LSU has formed a unique and unprecedented group of incoming players.

“I think it started with immediate needs versus player development and knowing that we had to balance it in some fashion,” said Kelly. “We’re going to take the field against Florida State and we needed to have a roster that allowed us to compete right away. So that 13 represents filling immediate needs that either were through graduation, attrition or injuries. That’s the 13.

“The 15 is through just the normal turnover, through graduation and moving on to the NFL. And that really kind of dictated how we move forward between the split – between 15 and 13 – relative to the 28.”

In addition to graduation and NFL departures, LSU faced a transfer portal exodus following Ed Orgeron’s split as head coach. While Kelly and his staff brought back a few key players, they also lost a significant portion of 2021’s production.

More on LSU’s incoming class

Brian Kelly’s class of transfers and recruits includes four of On3’s top 50 transfer portal prospects available. Headlined by No. 19 overall player Miles Frazier, a former FIU offensive lineman, the group of 13 ranks among the best hauls of the offseason.

Other key offensive additions include former Penn State running back Noah Cain and in-state transfer wide receiver Kyren Lacy. Former ETSU offensive lineman Tre’Mond Shorts also joined alongside special teams newcomers Slade Roy and Jay Bramblett.

The defense had quite a few holes in the secondary by the end of 2021, made worse by departures. The addition of Arkansas defensive backs Greg Brooks Jr and Joe Foucha headlined a group which also included former Oklahoma State star Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Louisiana’s Mekhi Williams-Garner.

The front seven also got a boost with Mekhi Wingo, West Weeks and Kolbe Fields.

Among the 15 high school recruits, five-star linebacker Harold Perkins headlined a late push. Quarterback Walker Howard and offensive lineman Will Campbell also held their commitments to LSU.

Despite the coaching uncertainty approaching signing day and the small class, LSU ranked No. 12 in the nation, according to On3’s consensus rankings. They also ranked No. 7 in the SEC and have an average NIL value of $28,000.