More than any other spot last year, LSU used the transfer portal to address the secondary. All the starting cornerbacks in 2021 had left for the NFL or another school, so the Tigers signed four to rebuild the room. Now they have to reload again. Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Colby Richardson used their last season of eligibility, and Mekhi Garner is leaving a year early for the NFL. LSU hoped to convince senior nickel safety Jay Ward to come back with the idea of letting him play corner, a source said, but he declared for the draft.
LSU doesn’t return a proven option. Ohio State transfer Sevyn Banks hasn’t played since suffering a spinal cord bruise on the scary opening kickoff Oct. 1 against Auburn, which required him to be taken off the field on a stretcher. Banks, who has been at games while he recovers, also had injuries at Ohio State that delayed him during preseason camp. He hasn’t played in more than four games in a season since 2020.
The Tigers believe in freshmen Laterrance Welch and Jaelyn Davis-Robinson, but neither of them have significant experience. There’s a promising group of incoming freshmen in the 2023 class, which could grow with the potential additions of top 100 prospects Javien Toviano and Desmond Ricks, but none of them have taken a college snap. LSU may sign one or two transfers to fill the void until the younger players develop.
