Transfer Portal Review: How much better did LSU get in 2023?

For the second straight year, LSU has been one of the more active transfer portal teams in the country under head coach Brian Kelly. In this new era of college football, the transfer portal has become an essential for virtually every team in the country.

LSU added 14 players from the portal, with 12 from fellow Power Five teams, one from Tulane, and one from Southeastern. In 2022, a significant portion of LSU’s production was from transfers, headlined by quarterback Jayden Daniels and the two starting cornerbacks.

Here, we want to look at the transfer additions, giving their impact, importance, and one hot take on each side of the ball. Let’s get into it.

Offense

Departures: QB Walker Howard, WR Jack Bech, TE Kole Taylor, OT Marcus Dumervil, OL Xavier Hill, OT Cam Wire, OL Kardell Thomas, 

Additions: WR Aaron Anderson, OL Mason Lunsford, RB Logan Diggs

Did the offense get better from the portal?

While the core of this offense stayed the same, I think the addition of Anderson and Diggs gives them unique playmakers they lacked before. Anderson is a gadget slot receiver who brings a different element to the offense and perhaps a few more wrinkles, while Diggs’ upside as a full-time starting running back with an impressive combination of size, speed, and experience is something LSU doesn’t have in the backfield.

Diggs and Anderson likely won’t decide how successful LSU’s offense is this season, but their ability to impact games in new ways could be the difference in a first down or a punt once or twice a game. Additionally, you have Anderson’s impact as a return man, and it makes him even more valuable.

Lunsford will step in and immediately contribute along the interior offensive line and, particularly, at the center spot. Maybe he wins the job, but even if he doesn’t there’s a ton of value to having an experienced player in the rotation on the offensive line. 

As for departures, there really isn’t anyone who left that would be a starter this year. Bech, Wire, and Taylor saw their snaps drop significantly and Howard was firmly third in the QB room. 

Hot take: Logan Diggs will emerge as the starting running back this year.

Not to say he’ll be the starting back game one or two, but by the middle of the season, there’s a real shot he’s getting the most carries and edges out Josh Williams for the lead back status. I expect it to be running back by committee, but we saw Williams take the reins in 2022. This year, I’m going to stick with Diggs.

Defense

Departures: LB Kolbe Fields, S Michael Daugherty, DE Desmond Little, LB Demario Tolan, DB Jordan Toles, CB Raydarious Jones, LB Antoine Sampah, S Derrick Davis, CB Jaelyn Davis-Robinson, CB Damarius McGhee, DE Zavier Carter

Additions: DL Paris Shand, DT Jalen Lee, DE Bradyn Swinson, CB Denver Harris, DT jordan Jefferson, CB Zy Alexander, CB Deuce Chestnut, DE Ovie Oghoufo, LB Omar Speights, DB Andre Sam

Did the defense get better from the portal?

LSU added potentially four or five starters and a ton of depth in the portal this year and it’s especially needed after the amount of players who transferred out from Matt House’s defense. The secondary had to be completely remade as three of the five starters headed to the NFL, while the remaining depth seeming all transferred out.

With only Laterrance Welch, Greg Brooks, and Major Burns returning, I think House did an excellent job getting in solidified DB talent from across the country for the second straight year. The defensive line depth was another concern that was addressed in the portal and should set up the Tigers to be better prepared for the long haul of the season.

Of the departures, only Demario Tolan was slated to play a significant role this season, but even still, it was unlikely he started in 2023. The rest were depth pieces who never really panned out or just wanted a change of scenery and a shot at playing time.

Hot take: The D-line transfers are underrated and will be better than anticipated

With Shand, Lee, Swinson, Jefferson, and Oghoufo, you have five players with P5 experience, and therefore adequate depth to compete throughout the season. Oghoufo and Swinson manning the JACK linebacker spot may not be as dynamic as Ojulari, but Ojulari’s numbers dipped in conference play as House began going more to Harold Perkins packages more and more. Oghoufo and Swinson are perhaps underrated at this point and should pair up to create some pressure on the edge.

I’m extremely high on Jordan Jefferson and believe he is the third best defensive tackle on the team behind two all-americans. Lee is a solid nose option, while Shand got a lot of first team reps in the spring at defensive tackle and is extremely versatile.

Obviously, Maason Smith and Wingo will warrant the headlines, but having this type of depth across the board could yield a better long-term outlook this season and the ability to withstand injuries.

Overall thoughts

There’s been a hesitancy from Kelly to overly endorse the portal. He maintains that he wants to use it as a stop gap, while still bringing in high-end high school talent every year. This season was the first time he’s had both a full class of freshmen and a full transfer class, finally building the depth he’s wanted on both sides of the ball.

While the core of this team is solidified, these additions are key to get this team to a national championship. A mixture of top-end talent paired with some potential depth pieces (depending on competition) allows the coaching staff flexibility and should put LSU in a spot to be better than last year.

The Tigers aren’t trying to outsmart everyone or load up on NIL offers to transfers, but instead taking solid prospects who fit their scheme, fit their identity as a program, and will round out their roster. The fall will tell us plenty about just how impactful this group of additions will be, but expectations are high as they’re now in purple and gold.