LSU's NCAA Transfer Portal Breakdown

The first ever NCAA Transfer Portal window is officially open.

The 45-day window, which began on December 5, allows college football players to enter their name into the NCAA Transfer Portal. Once in the portal, players are given a green light to speak with coaches at other programs about potentially transferring.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly went heavy in the transfer portal after taking the job a year ago. With more than 15 transfers taken, LSU was among the nation’s leaders in transfer portal additions.

Many of the additions paid off in a big way, giving Kelly and the staff starters at a number of positions, including quarterback Jayden Daniels.

One year later, Kelly said the goal is to take fewer transfers and begin to focus more on developing the current roster through freshmen additions. After signing 15 high school prospects a year ago, LSU has 25 verbal commitments from high school players in the current 2023 class – and that number is expected to grow.

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Still, Kelly said the Tigers will be active in the portal as they fill out needs on the roster this offseason. There will also be more players from LSU’s roster enter the transfer portal, though it’s largely expected to be natural attrition as current Tigers look elsewhere for more playing time.

The Bengal Tiger and On3 will have you covered with every piece of news over the course of the first Transfer Portal window.

This story will be updated with transfer portal offers from LSU, the list of Tigers in the portal, thoughts from Kelly and more.

To track all of the action in the portal for teams across college football, you can click the links below.

On3 Transfer Portal Homepage

The Transfer Portal Wire

The Transfer Portal News Feed

LSU’s Transfer Portal Additions (1)

Aaron Anderson – WR – Alabama (transferring to LSU) … The New Orleans native signed with Alabama a year ago, but he was once committed to the Tigers before news broke on Ed Orgeron not being retained as head coach. One year later, Anderson is headed back home as LSU’s first commitment from the NCAA Transfer Portal and will play for Brian Kelly and the Tigers in 2023. Anderson gives LSU both a dynamic option in the return game on special teams as well as a talented slot receiver who has four years of eligibility remaining.

LSU’s Transfer Portal Offers (6)

Below is a running list of offers that have been reported by prospects:

Kyle Morlock – TE – Shorter University (committed to Florida State) … The graduate transfer out of Division II Shorter University picked up an offer from LSU in November. He had added double-digit offers after entering the portal, but he shut things down and committed to Florida State before ever making a visit to Baton Rouge.

Braden Fiske – DT – Western Michigan … Fiske has spent five seasons at Western Michigan, but thanks to a redshirt season and taking advantage of the 2020 pandemic season that didn’t dock players a year of eligibility, he still has one season of college football in front of him as a graduate student. Fiske finished the 2022 season with 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, seven quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. For his career, he logged 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks across his career. Fiske has already made a number of college visits, including a trip to Florida State over the weekend. Next up is a stop at Southern Cal. To this point, it doesn’t appear LSU’s made much noise with Fiske.

Bradyn Swinson – EDGE – Oregon … This season, Swinson tallied eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Swinson has spent three seasons at Oregon, finishing with 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Swinson was on LSU’s campus this past weekend for a visit, and it’s worth noting he was recruited to Arizona State out of high school by current LSU defensive line coach Jamar Cain. We believe Swinson, a Georgia native, is trending to the Tigers and could see him landing in LSU’s class.

Josaiah Stewart – DL – Coastal Carolina (committed to Michigan) … Stewart burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2021 when he logged 12.5 sacks. After two seasons where he piled up 79 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks, Stewart entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal and quickly added an offer from LSU’s staff. On December 12, Stewart revealed a top three of LSU, Southern Cal and Michigan. He then cut the Tigers from his list, and soon after he committed to Michigan.

Kyon Barrs – DL – Arizona (committed to Southern Cal) … The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder made a career-high 39 tackles during the 2022 season while notching 4.5 tackles for loss. The California native totaled 102 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks in 38 games over four seasons with the Wildcats. Barrs entertained the idea of visiting Baton Rouge, but he shut things down after a trip to Los Angeles and committed to the Trojans.

Paris Shand – DL – Arizona … In 2022, Shand appeared in nine games with seven starts. He finished with a career-high 39 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered one. In 2021, he logged time in 11 of the Wildcats 12 games, with three starts along the defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder totaled 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries. Shand took in recent trips to Rutgers and Ole Miss before spending this past weekend in Baton Rouge on an LSU visit. The Tigers are in the lead group here, but it’s unclear where LSU sits in the pecking order for the Canadian who played his high school football in Connecticut.

Three Transfer Portal names to watch

Denver Harris – CB – Texas A&M … Harris nearly picked LSU coming out of high school a year ago, but he signed on with Texas A&M. Harris was named a Midseason All-American by numerous outlets this past season, but off the field issues kept him out of the lineup the rest of the way. After entering the Transfer Portal, Harris made a trip to Baton Rouge and was able to sit down for an extended conversation with head coach Brian Kelly and the staff. There’s no firm timetable here, but LSU is considered the team to beat. And with a big need at cornerback, Harris would be an immediate starter in Baton Rouge. Harris has not publicly reported any offers, but sources tell On3 that he’s been given a green light by LSU’s staff.

Jalen Lee – DT – Florida … Lee played in 12 games for the Gators this past season, earning three starts at nose tackle and logging eight tackles on the year. In 2021, Lee appeared in eight game and made one start (bowl game against UCF). As a freshman in 2020, Lee played in five games. Across three seasons in Gainesville, Lee appeared in 25 games, finishing with 19 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. The Louisiana native was once committed to LSU, but the prior regime parted ways with the Live Oak graduate soon before the Early Signing Period. Keep an eye on Lee given LSU is looking to add multiple interior defensive linemen this offseason.

Jake Renfro – C – Cincinnati … Renfro has stayed mum on which programs he’s eyeing after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, but there’s been some buzz around LSU potentially getting the talented center to campus for a visit. It’s worth noting that LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock coached Renfro a year ago when he held the same post for the Bearcats, so there’s a familiarity there. LSU returns all five starters on the offensive line, as well as a sixth man in Garrett Dellinger. Still, it appears the Tigers are keeping an eye on “best available” players in the portal, and Renfro certainly fits the bill.

LSU players in the Transfer Portal (13)

Below is a running list of current/former LSU players in the Transfer Portal:

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.

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.

Brian Kelly updates LSU’s approach to the Transfer Portal

Following the SEC Championship, LSU head coach Brian Kelly went into more detail on his plan to attack the NCAA Transfer Portal over the next 45 days.

“They have got to be the right fit first,” Kelly said. “They have to recognize the value of an education from LSU. They have to have the right traits. We are not just open for business. We’re not just putting a sign up saying, hey, we are going to take whoever. They have to be the right fit. I prefer that they are from the state of Louisiana if we can find them. And then we are going to address needs based upon how that freshman class marries into it by the particular needs by position class.

“So we are not going to overload a particular position group. In other words, if we have got three or four wide receivers that are freshmen coming in, you may not see a heavy influence in the portal in that position.

“We are going to develop based upon our freshman class, too. So we are doing this at the same time, and also allowing our program to be younger, too. We want to bring both of these along. We don’t always want to be a turn-it-over program where we are bringing in transfers and turning the program over.

“So we need to grow and you’ve got to do that by recruiting freshmen and giving them the opportunity to step on the field and develop. And you can’t do that if you keep bringing in freshmen at one position and then bringing a portal guy who has got one year and putting it in front of him.”

The Transfer Portal Windows

The NCAA Transfer Portal’s newest rules will allow 60 days per year for student-athletes to enter the portal and maintain immediate eligibility for first-time transfers. For fall sports like football, the window will be split into two periods.

The first, a 45-day period, begins December 5. A second window will be instituted from May 1-15, giving players an option to enter the transfer portal after spring camp. 

The first portal window will close on January 19.

The Transfer Portal Guidelines

The NCAA transfer portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship no longer has to be honored. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school is not obligated to provide a scholarship anymore.

The database is a normal database, sortable by a variety of topics, including (of course) sport and name. A player’s individual entry includes basic details such as contact info, whether the player was on scholarship and whether the player is transferring as a graduate student.

A player can ask that a “do not contact” tag be placed on the report. In those instances, the players don’t want to be contacted by schools unless they’ve initiated the communication.