Brian Kelly provides update on Duce Chestnut's status with LSU program

As of now, LSU cornerback Duce Chestnut is no longer with LSU. On Thursday, head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on the situation.

“Duce is not with our team right now and we’ll make a decision on his status in the next few weeks,” Kelly said.

Chestnut did not travel with the team to Ole Miss on Saturday. In the 55-49 loss, the Tigers gave up 389 passing yards. In two appearances this season, Chestnut recorded six tackles and one interception. The junior defensive back transferred to LSU this offseason after starting at Syracuse for two seasons.

Duce Chestnut’s lengthy resumé

Chestnut played with the Orange for two seasons, and landed on the On3 Freshman All-America Team following the 2021 campaign. He also began his debut season on the On3 Preseason All-America Team. As a freshman, Chestnut started in every game for the Orange, finishing the year with three interceptions and eight pass breakups.

After the 2022 season concluded, Chestnut put his name into the transfer portal.

In two seasons with the Orange, Chestnut started in all 24 games he appeared in, tallying 83 tackles, including 59 solo stops, five tackles for loss and four interceptions. 

Chestnut left high school in New Jersey ranked as the No. 459 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to On3 Industry Ratings. He joined Syracuse as a three-star and the No. 39 cornerback prospect in the class.

Despite Chestnut’s current situation, the New Jersey native seemed thrilled to join LSU this offseason.

“I always told everybody I was trying to go to LSU,” Chestnut said. “It didn’t work out coming out of high school, but God’s plan is different than what you might want it to be. Just growing up and wanting to be part of DBU. That’s always been a thing for me.

“I almost broke into tears,” Chestnut said. “Just hearing that LSU wanted me, that I had a chance to come and start for DBU, and be one of the next guys, was like a dream come true for me.”

That dream will have to wait. With Chestnut away from the team, Kelly is moving forward with four cornerbacks.

On Monday, Kelly said the team would move forward with those four corners.

“We’re working our tails off. We had some injuries there,” Kelly said on Monday. “We lost Zy for a little bit with an ankle (injury). Ashton Stamps was coming off of a groin injury. They were in the game. They gave us everything they had and did the best they could given the circumstances. I’m proud of those guys. They went out and they competed and did the best that they could given the circumstances.

“But, that’s our rotation. Those are the four guys. [Laterrance Welch and Denver Harris], those are the four guys that we’re rolling with right now.”