LSU Transfer Portal Focus: Defensive Tackles

LSU head coach Brian Kelly didn’t mince words when he took the podium ahead of LSU’s Spring Game on Saturday.

When asked about the pursuit of transfer portal targets beyond defensive tackles, Kelly paused for a brief moment, then revealed the staff’s approach.

“I don’t see any other positions that we need to be in the transfer portal for other than the defensive tackle position,” Kelly said.

There had been rumblings the Tigers could continue to add defensive backs, though as spring practices wrap up, Kelly and Co. don’t circle the area as a major need – instead pointing to development and putting the players in the correct positions after shuffling up the defensive backs room a year ago.

With 14 practices in the books, Kelly said it’s become clear where the Tigers need the most help entering the 2024 season.

“Certainly we have a better sense of the areas we need to get better in,” Kelly said after circling defensive tackle as the top priority in the upcoming portal window. “I think we walk away with clearly a better feel for our football team and the areas we have to really strengthen going into the offseason.

“What does that mean particularly? We all clearly understand that the team itself is better balanced offensively and defensively. Last year it was pretty clear that we tried to fit in a lot of transfers on defense. There’s a lot more continuity on defense. From an offense perspective, we’ve lost some players, but it’s pretty clear with an offensive line, some tight ends, a quarterback and a deep receiver (room) that we are going to have some success on offense.”

Kelly said the staff will do a “deeper dive” into the roster following Saturday’s LSU Spring Game, but the point remains.

The search for more defensive tackles sits atop the list for a portal window that opens April 16 and ends April 30.

Kelly said the staff has to “continue to be able to recruit and develop at the defensive tackle position”, and the Tigers welcome a 5-star defensive tackle signee to campus this summer in Louisiana’s Dominick McKinnley.

As for spring practices, LSU leaned heavily on veteran Jacobian Guillory, then rotated a number of other players in at defensive tackle. That included the only other returning scholarship defensive tackle in Jalen Lee, a converted offensive lineman in Kimo Makaneole, a former walk-on transfer from Oklahoma State in Preston Hickey, a junior college addition in Shone Washington and others.

“We need to continue to recruit and continue to develop, but I like the energy,” he said. “I like the way our players have responded this spring, and I expect our defense to continue to get better.

LSU has already landed one graduate transfer at defensive tackle in Wisconsin’s Gio Paez, a veteran who appeared in 13 games with six starts at Wisconsin this past season. He ended the year with 23 total tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Paez has played in 32 games and logged 36 tackles for Wisconsin across the past three seasons.

LSU is also currently hosting Indiana transfer Philip Blidi, who also spent time at Texas Tech and is now back in the portal as a graduate transfer.

Blidi is coming off a 2023 season with the Hoosies where he played in 12 games with 11 starts, logging 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Prior to his 2023 season at Indiana, Blidi spent three seasons at Texas Tech. During his time with the Red Raiders, he appeared in 34 games and posted 39 tackles, six tackles for a loss and two sacks.

Oklahoma is the next school set to host Blidi, and he is coming off a visit to Washington. A decision date hasn’t been set, but this week’s trip to Baton Rouge is a big one for LSU’s chances of landing a second veteran at the position.

From there, all eyes are on the NCAA Transfer Portal’s spring window, which officially opens on April 16 and runs for two weeks. During that stretch, sources tell The Bengal Tiger staff LSU is expected to land at least one name that enters the portal, and potentially more.

LSU sources also indicated the original goal was to get at least two defensive tackles from the portal, but have since added that number could grow beyond two transfers.