LSU Transfer Portal Tracker

16 LSU football players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, including 14 from the 2022 roster.

The two other transfer portal entrants, linebacker Antoine Sampah and edge rusher Phillip Webb, both left the team in August and were not listed on roster during the season.

Of the 14 players from the 2022 roster who entered the portal, three made starts for the Tigers this past season.

LSU sophomore wide receiver Jack Bech made four starts, though he finished the year eighth in total catches among players on roster.

Tight end Kole Taylor made two starts, but he moved into a backup role behind freshman tight end Mason Taylor.

Cameron Wire made one start at offensive tackle in the season opener, but shuffling along the offensive line moved him into a backup role the rest of the way.

The most recent name to enter the portal is third-string quarterback Walker Howard, who spent just one season in Baton Rouge before deciding to head elsewhere in the SEC West.

Here’s the rundown on the double-digit LSU players who have put their names into the portal.

As of January 18, 14 of the 16 former LSU players in the portal had committed to a new school.

Walker Howard – QB – Freshman (Transferring to Ole Miss) … After just one season in Baton Rouge, former four-star quarterback Walker Howard is planning to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. The news comes after senior Jayden Daniels announced he would return for one more season in 2023, and all signs point to redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier remaining on roster for next season. Nussmeier will battle Daniels for playing time in 2023, then is expected to take over as the starter once Daniels leaves campus after the season. With Nussmeier sitting on three more years of college eligibility, it’s clear Howard felt his path to earlier playing time was going to come elsewhere. On January 18, Howard announced his commitment to Ole Miss.

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 (Transferring to West Virginia) … 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. After entering the portal, Taylor announced his decision to transfer to West Virginia.

Cameron Wire – OT – Senior (Transferring to Tulane) … 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 he has two years of eligibility remaining. Wire announced he would remain in Louisiana and transfer to Tulane.

Xavier Hill – OL – Redshirt sophomore (Transferring to Memphis) … 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, Hill will head closer to home and finish his college career at Memphis.

Marcus Dumervil – OT – Sophomore (Transferring to Maryland) … 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. After entering the portal, Dumervil announced he would transfer to Maryland.

Zavier Carter – EDGE – Sophomore … Carter appeared in 18 games for LSU during his two seasons on campus, finishing with a combined seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Carter, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, served as a backup at the JACK position. With BJ Ojulari headed to the NFL Draft, all eyes are on how quickly five-star EDGE signee Dashawn Womack can be ready as a true freshman. The Tigers also signed a key transfer at the position in Oregon EDGE Bradyn Swinson. As of January 17, Carter remains uncommitted.

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. Little landed an offer from Memphis at the start of the month. As of January 17, he remains uncommitted.

Phillip Webb – EDGE – Redshirt Sophomore (Transferring to Jackson State) … 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. On January 17, Webb announced he was committed to Jackson State.

DeMario Tolan – LB – Freshman (Transferring to Auburn) … This might be one of the biggest surprises when it comes to LSU players hitting the portal, though it remains unknown why Tolan did not dress out for the team’s Citrus Bowl win over Purdue, let alone why he departed after just one season. As a true freshman, Tolan appeared in 12 games and logged 10 tackles and two quarterback hurries. The stats don’t jump off the page, but Tolan had worked his way into playing time at linebacker behind starter Greg Penn III as the season progressed. There were high hopes from fans for Year 2 for Tolan, but now Tolan will be part of the competition with his decision to enroll at Auburn.

Kolbe Fields – LB – Redshirt Freshman (Transferring to Louisiana Tech) … 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. On Monday morning (January 16), news broke of the Louisiana native’s decision to remain in-state and transfer to Louisiana Tech.

Antoine Sampah – LB – Junior (Transferring to Campbell) … 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. On January 5, Sampah committed to Campbell.

Damarius McGhee – CB – Sophomore (Transferring to Kansas) … 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 Sunday (January 15), McGhee announced his decision to transfer to Kansas.

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 (Transferring to SMU) … 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 back to Texas and play for SMU next season.

Derrick Davis Jr. – S/RB – Sophomore (Transferring to Pitt) … 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 regular season games before entering the portal, and he had four total tackles on defense and carried the ball five times for 28 yards over that stretch. All of his carries came in a late-November win over UAB. That said, Davis remained on roster for the Citrus Bowl and saw action at running back, carrying the ball six times for 29 yards and one touchdown. On January 10, Davis announced his decision to return home to Pennsylvania and transfer to Pitt.