Brian Kelly on makeup, leadership of defensive back room

New LSU coach Brian Kelly is dealing with a lot of moving parts on defense in his first offseason in Baton Rouge. Particularly in the secondary, where key players have transferred both out and in.

Following spring practices, Kelly addressed media and was asked about the developments of the secondary.

“Well, we thought we had two really good ones,” Kelly surmised. “Then they took off.”

One of those “good ones” became a top transfer in the country once leaving LSU. Eli Ricks was the Tigers’ top cornerback back when he actually played. But a shoulder injury sidelined him for the second half of last season.

He was a third-team AP All-American as a true freshman and impressed in limited action as a sophomore. All told, he departed Baton Rouge as the eighth-ranked college football transfer in the country, per On3. He then committed to Alabama, where he’s expected to be one of the team’s starting corners.

Stealing transfers from fellow SEC schools? Two can play at that game. After losing Ricks, Brian Kelly snatched some talent from a different SEC West rival when LSU landed commitments from a pair of Arkansas seniors, safety Joe Foucha, and cornerback Greg Brooks Jr.

“They’re exactly what we had hoped for,” Kelly said of the pair of experienced SEC defenders. “They lead by example both on and off the field. They’ve been excellent in the classroom. They’ve helped rise the level of everybody.”

Both guys project as immediate contributors for the Tigers defensive backfield. After all, they do have quite a bit of experience at the highest level of college football.

Those two aren’t the only additions to the LSU secondary. Brian Kelly practically had to overhaul the entire back half of the defense via the transfer portal. Foucha and Brooks are the headliners. However, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, also projects as a starter at corner after four productive years at Oklahoma State.

They also get a corner from a different OSU, with Ohio State’s Sevyn Banks coming over after failing to find a starter’s role with the Buckeyes. And Mekhi Williams-Garner from just down the road at Louisiana is another possible major rotation player at corner. Finally, Quad Wilson is upgrading from FCS ranks at McNeese State to provide depth for the Tigers.

Brian Kelly has a brand new secondary for his first season at LSU with power five experience and talent. The only question is how they’ll fit.