Jay Johnson reveals top transfer target nearly dropped LSU during championship series

The last 48 hours have been a complete whirlwind for LSU coach Jay Johnson. He watched his team dispatch Coastal Carolina twice, claiming the program’s second national title in three years.

As the confetti rained down on Charles Schwab Field, Johnson was of two minds. First, he wanted to take in the moment. Second, he knew there was instantly more work to be done.

He knew that because he nearly lost a transfer target to another program. A late save has kept LSU in the ballgame for said transfer, though.

So while his players celebrated, Jay Johnson was thinking back to a conversation he had via text message. Trying to enjoy the championship win still, no doubt, but torn between tasks.

“At the same time, the transfer portal is rocking and rolling,” Johnson said Monday on The Paul Finebaum Show. “I’ve got a Zoom I’ve got to do tonight with a player. And it was a player that right after we won Game 1 of the championship series texted me and said, ‘I’m not coming on my visit next weekend, I’m committing to another school.’

“And I was like, ‘Well you obviously didn’t watch the game tonight, because I don’t know how you could watch that and not be enticed to want to be a part of this, what we’ve got going right now.'”

But that’s the reality in this day and age of the transfer portal. If you’re not moving, you’re getting left behind.

Luckily for Jay Johnson, he’s one of the best recruiters in the game. And after the last two national titles, he’s got a track record that starts to sell itself.

So there’s the other half of the equation. The celebration.

“I try to be really good at taking in the moments,” Johnson said. “Taking a breath on the field at Charles Schwab Field and they’re playing the song that plays when we win at our home games. And look up in the crowd and it’s all purple and gold. Just try to make sure I’m understanding that I’m living the best moments of my entire life right now. I believe that.”

And, of course, Jay Johnson can sell that same scene to the dozens of top-notch transfers out there that might be interested in chasing a title themselves. Life is good when you’re on top.