LSU and the Transfer Portal: Tigers who are transferring

With the NCAA Transfer Portal opening on December 5, players from across college football began to enter their names into the database.

The initial rush has since turned into a slow drip with fewer prospects entering each day, but that’s expecting to change as college teams wrap up bowl games, which will bring more names into the portal.

So far, LSU has had 13 players enter the portal. Two, Antoine Sampah and Phillip Webb, were already in the portal in August and were not on roster this season.

Of the 11 players on roster who entered the portal, two have already found new homes in wide receiver Jack Bech and cornerback Raydarious Jones. Bech is committed to TCU, while Jones returned home to Mississippi and committed to Mississippi State.

The rest of the players who’ve entered the portal are still evaluating options, and nearly everyone from the group hit the transfer portal with hopes of finding a new landing spot and increased playing time.

Here’s the rundown on the double-digit LSU players currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

LSU players in the Transfer Portal (13)

Below is a running list of current/former LSU players in the Transfer Portal: (Updated December 19)

Jack Bech – WR – Sophomore (Transferring to TCU) … Bech made a huge splash during his freshman season in 2021 when he led the team in catches (43) and finished with the third-most receiving yards (489). With three touchdowns, it appeared he was primed to make a big splash in Year 2. But Bech battled through injury and fell behind in the rotation at receiver and finished the year with 16 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown. After the production dip, Bech announced his intentions on December 6 to enter the transfer portal in search of a new role on another roster. On December 18, Bech announced his commitment to TCU.

Kole Taylor – TE – Junior … In 2022, Taylor caught five passes for 55 yards. In 2021, Taylor played in 12 games with three starts. He caught six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. As a true freshman in 2020, Taylor played in seven games with two starts. His game against Florida when a Gator tossed his cleat down the field resulted in an LSU 1st down, allowing Cade York’s game-winning kick in the fog to become a legendary play in the rivalry.

Cameron Wire – OT – Senior … Wire had 10 starts in his first three years and 22 appearances from 2019 through 2021. Wire was expected to start at tackle for the Tigers in 2022, but after a rough performance in the season-opening loss to Florida State, Wire was relegated to the second string and played in just three other games this season. Despite being a senior, Wire was able to use his redshirt this season, playing only four games. He did not redshirt in his first three years at LSU. The 6-foot-6 senior from Gonzales was able to bounce from guard to tackle under Brad Davis and will look for somewhere to contribute in 2023. He also has his COVID season, giving him two years of eligibility remaining.

Xavier Hill – OL – Redshirt sophomore … The Olive Branch, Miss. native played in seven career games for the Tigers. In 2021, he started a pair of games for LSU against McNeese and Central Michigan. But during the 2022 season, Hill battled injury as a pair of true freshmen took over as the starting tackles. Now, he’s exploring other avenues for more playing time.

Marcus Dumervil – OT – Sophomore … The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native played in 16 games for the Tigers from 2020-22. Dumervill will have three years to play two seasons as he played in 10 games in 2021 and five in 2022. 2020, when he played in one game, was his eligibility-free year due to COVID-19. His lone start for LSU came against Arkansas when the Tigers opened the contest with a sixth offensive lineman on the field.

Desmond Little – EDGE – Junior … In 2022, the Alabama native notched six tackles on the year in seven games and broke up a pass against Southern. In 2021, Little played in five games, making 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Little redshirted during the 2019 National Championship season before playing in two games during the 2020 season.

Phillip Webb – EDGE – Redshirt Sophomore … Webb had just one tackle in three games played as a redshirt freshman at LSU in 2021. He entered the portal ahead of the 2022 season and isn’t currently listed on the LSU roster.

Kolbe Fields – LB – Redshirt Freshman … Fields, who transferred in from South Carolina a year ago after appearing in four games for the Gamecocks, saw a role on special teams in his one season with LSU. He appeared in 11 games and made five tackles.

Antoine Sampah – LB – Junior … Sampah appeared in four games in 2020 and two games in 2021, but didn’t record any stats. He entered the portal ahead of the 2022 season and isn’t currently listed on the LSU roster.

Damarius McGhee – CB – Sophomore … The Florida native played in one game in the 2022 season after playing in 12 games in 2021, including a start at cornerback against Kansas State. He was unable to break into the cornerback rotation this season, though, as LSU brought in a slew of transfers, making for a competitive cornerback room. He retained his redshirt this season, leaving him with three seasons still to play wherever he ends up. On December 16, McGhee made a visit to Arkansas State.

Raydarious Jones – CB – Junior (Transferring to Mississippi State) … Jones was suspended the entire 2022 season (academics), but he appeared in nine games a year ago as a backup and on special teams. He saw action in three games during the 2020 season, and he appeared in four games during LSU’s National Championship season in 2019. Now, the Tigers will face off against Jones as he heads to SEC West foe Mississippi State.

Jaelyn Davis-Robinson – CB – Freshman … Davis-Robinson became the third cornerback from LSU’s roster to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Waxahachie, Texas native spent just one year in Baton Rouge, playing two games to retain his redshirt. There were positive reports out of fall camp that he was one of the young defensive backs to be excited about, but with the influx of transfers, he was unable to get on the field for any meaningful snaps. There were hopes of Davis-Robinson cracking into playing time next season, but he will head elsewhere to continue his college career.

Derrick Davis Jr. – S/RB – Sophomore … Davis, who signed on with the Tigers in 2021, moved from safety to running back this season to help alleviate depth concerns at the position. He appeared in four games during head coach Brian Kelly’s first season in Baton Rouge. Across those four games, Davis had four total tackles on defense and carried the ball five times for 28 yards. All of his carries game in a late-November win over UAB. As a freshman in 2021, Davis appeared in 12 games, seeing action on special teams. He finished his freshman year with two tackles.