LSU’s roster has undergone another transformation since the end of the 2022 regular season. The Tigers have added 35 newcomers and have seen 13 veterans enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Counting the players who are set to return at this point, LSU has 77 initial counters out of high school on the roster, in addition to at least two former walk-ons now on scholarship – Josh Williams and Damian Ramos – plus Jack Mashburn, another former walk-on who was once on scholarship.
That still leaves 5-6 open spots for the staff to address, but the clock is ticking with the spring semester set to start Tuesday, Jan. 17. The final day to add classes is Jan. 26, so that still leaves a little more than a week at the most.
Another transfer portal window opens after players have an opportunity to go through spring practice, so there is still ample time to add and lose more players ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Unless LSU sees some unexpected attrition, linebacker is easily the biggest position of need with only five scholarship players currently on the roster. What are some other areas the staff could address?
We look at each position below with who is currently on the roster, how much eligibility they have left, their production in college, along with where they ranked in recruiting.
QUARTERBACK (3 )
Jayden Daniels 6-3, 200, Sr.
1 year left + redshirt
42 starts in 42 games; Completed 705-of-1,094 passes (64.4%) for 8,798 yards with 48 TDs and 16 INTs; 475 rushes for 2,081 yards and 24 TDs
4-star – No. 2 dual-threat; No. 35 overall in America; No. 3 in California
Garrett Nussmeier 6-2, 194, So.
3 years left
10 games; Completed 70-of-126 passes (55.6%) for 956 yards with 5 TDs and 5 INTs; 6 rushes for -59 yards
4-star – No. 14 QB; No. 84 overall in America; No. 15 in Texas
Rickie Collins 6-2, 185, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 16 QB; No. 233 overall in America; No. 13 in Louisiana
RUNNING BACK (6)
Noah Cain 5-10, 220, Super Sr.
1 year left + redshirt available
10 starts in 36 games; 258 rushes for 1,150 yards and 19 TDs and 33 catches for 237 yards
2019 4-star – No. 6 running back; No. 98 overall in America; No. 13 in Florida
Josh Williams 5-9, 200, Sr.
1 year left
6 starts in 34 games; 142 rushes for 727 yards and 6 TDs and 26 catches for 143 yards
Unranked out of high school
John Emery 5-11, 220, Sr.
2 years left
5 starts in 29 games; 184 rushes for 894 yards and 12 TDs and 32 catches for 259 yards and 2 TDs
2019 5-star – No. 2 running back; No. 13 overall in America; No. 2 in Louisiana
Armoni Goodwin 5-8, 198, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt available
3 starts in 13 games; 61 rushes for 323 yards and 5 TDs and 6 catches for 24 yards
2021 4-star – No. 7 running back; No. 139 overall in America; No. 6 in Alabama
Kaleb Jackson 5-11, 222, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 10 RB; No. 174 overall in America; No. 8 in Louisiana
Trey Holly 5-7, 189, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 14 RB; No. 226 overall in America; No. 12 in Louisiana
WIDE RECEIVER (10)
Kyren Lacy 6-2, 217, Sr.
2 years left + redshirt
8 starts in 38 games; 72 catches for 879 yards and 10 TDs
3-star – No. 157 WR; No. 1075 overall in America; No. 46 in Louisiana
Malik Nabers 6-0, 195, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
16 starts in 24 games; 91 catches for 1,271 yards and 6 TDs
4-star – No. 40 WR; No. 261 overall in America; No. 8 in Louisiana
Brian Thomas Jr. 6-4, 201, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
14 starts in 24 games; 55 catches for 689 yards and 6 TDs
4-star – No. 13 WR; No. 89 overall in America; No. 4 in Louisiana
Chris Hilton 6-1, 182, So.
3 years left
3 starts in 8 games; 9 catches for 190 yards and 1 TD
4-star – No. 11 WR; No. 79 overall in America; No. 3 in Louisiana
Landon Ibieta 5-11, 192, Fr.
4 years left
3-star – No. 73 WR; No. 547 overall in America; No. 27 in Louisiana
Shelton Sampson Jr. 6-3, 187, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 8 WR; No. 43 overall in America; No. 4 in Louisiana
Kyle Parker 5-11, 182, Fr.
3 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 49 WR; No. 352 overall in America; No. 61 in Texas
Jalen Brown 6-0, 165, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 13 WR; No. 83 overall in America; No. 17 in Florida
Khai Prean 6-0, 193, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 23 ATH; No. 398 overall in America; No. 17 in Louisiana
Aaron Anderson 5-9, 185, Fr.
4 years left
No stats recorded in 1 game at Alabama
4-star transfer from Alabama
TIGHT END (4)
Mason Taylor 6-5, 245, So.
3 years left + redshirt
12 starts in 13 games; 33 catches for 326 yards and 2 TDs
3-star – No. 20 TE; No. 457 overall in America; No. 63 in Florida
Mac Markway 6-3, 243, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 12 TE; No. 231 overall in America; No. 7 in Missouri
Jackson McGohan 6-3, 213, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
3-star – No. 25 TE; No. 545 overall in America; No. 17 in Ohio
Ka’Morreun Pimpton 6-6, 227, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 16 TE; No. 297 overall in America; No. 54 in Texas
OFFENSIVE LINE (14)
Charles Turner 6-4, 295, Sr.
2 years left
13 starts in 26 games
3-star – No. 8 center; No. 568 overall in America; No. 71 in Florida
Marlon Martinez 6-4, 330, Sr.
2 years left + redshirt
4 starts in 32 games
3-star – No. 17 OG; No. 378 overall in America; No. 61 in Florida
Kardell Thomas 6-3, 350, Sr.
2 years left
2 starts in 10 games
4-star – No. 4 OG; No. 97 overall in America; No. 4 in Louisiana
Garrett Dellinger 6-5, 320, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
9 starts in 20 games
4-star – No. 12 OT; No. 91 overall in America; No. 5 in Michigan
Miles Frazier 6-6, 323, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
25 starts in 28 games
4-star – No. 2 OT in transfer portal; No. 13 overall in portal
Will Campbell 6-6, 325, So.
3 years left + redshirt
12 starts in 12 games
5-star – No. 4 OT; No. 27 overall in America; No. 1 in Louisiana
Emery Jones 6-4, 330, So.
3 years left + redshirt
11 starts in 13 games
4-star – No. 8 IOL; No. 152 overall in America; No. 12 in Louisiana
Kimo Makane’ole 6-4, 300, So.
3 years left
4 games
3-star – No. 31 OG; No. 442 overall in America; No. 66 in Florida
Bo Bordelon 6-6, 292, Fr.
4 years left
2 games
3-star – No. 47 OT; No. 539 overall in America; No. 25 in Louisiana
Fitzgerald West 6-3, 322, Fr.
4 years left
5 games
3-star – No. 120 DT; No. 905 overall in America; No. 41 in Louisiana
DJ Chester 6-4, 315, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 12 OT; No. 139 overall in America; No. 9 in Georgia
Zalance Heard 6-6, 308, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
5-star – No. 4 OT; No. 28 overall in America; No. 2 in Louisiana
Tyree Adams 6-6, 282, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 15 OT; No. 179 overall in America; No. 10 in Louisiana
Paul Mubenga 6-4, 291, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
3-star – No. 42 OT; No. 545 overall in America; No. 56 in Georgia
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
Jalen Lee 6-2, 299, Sr.
2 years left + redshirt
25 games at Florida; 1.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs, 19 tackles, 1 forced fumble
3-star transfer from Florida
Jordan Jefferson 6-3, 310, Sr.
1 year left + redshirt
40 games at West Virginia; 3.5 sacks, 14.5 TFLs, 54 tackles, 7 passes broken up
4-star transfer from West Virginia
Paris Shand 6-5, 290, Sr.
2 years left + redshirt
23 games at Arizona; 5.0 sacks, 5.5 TFLs, 41 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
4-star transfer from Arizona
Maason Smith 6-5, 300, Jr.
3 years left
5 starts in 10 games; 4.0 sacks, 5.0 TFLs, 19 tackles, 1 QB hurry
5-star – No. 5 DL; No. 20 overall in America; No. 1 in Louisiana
Jacobian Guillory 6-2, 315, Jr.
2 years left
1 start in 25 games; 0.5 sack, 1.5 TFLs, 20 tackles
4-star – No. 12 DT; No. 95 overall in America; No. 4 in Louisiana
Mekhi Wingo 6-0, 295, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
16 starts in 25 games; 3.0 sacks, 6.0 TFLs, 71 tackles, 1 INT, 5 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble
3-star – No. 74 DL; No. 614 overall in America; No. 8 in Missouri
Saivion Jones 6-5, 250, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
2 starts in 24 games; 3.5 sacks, 5.0 TFLs, 25 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass broken up
4-star – No. 11 DE; No. 163 overall in America; No. 6 in Louisiana
Bryce Langston 6-3, 293, So.
3 years left
3 games; 0.5 sack, 0.5 TFL, 1 tackle
4-star – No. 24 DL; No. 162 overall in America; No. 23 in Florida
Quency Wiggins 6-5, 275, Fr.
4 years left
5 games; 1 tackle
4-star – No. 15 DL; No. 92 overall in America; No. 7 in Louisiana
Tygee Hill 6-3, 300, Fr.
4 years left
2 games; 1 tackle
4-star – No. 58 DL; No. 403 overall in America; No. 16 in Louisiana
JACK LINEBACKER (5)
Ovie Oghoufo 6-3, 239, Super Sr.
1 year left
30 games at Texas and Notre Dame; 6.0 sacks, 17.0 TFLs, 106 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 5 passes broken up
3-star transfer
Bradyn Swinson 6-4, 233, Jr.
2 years left
1 start in 30 games; 3.0 sacks, 5.5 TFLs, 35 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 passes broken up
Dylan Carpenter 6-4, 234, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
3-star – No. 54 EDGE; No. 568 overall in America; No. 21 in Louisiana
Dashawn Womack 6-5, 244, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
5-star – No. 7 EDGE; No. 37 overall in America; No. 1 in Maryland
Jaxon Howard 6-4, 243, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 18 EDGE; No. 120 overall in America; No. 1 in Minnesota
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5)
2 years left
14 starts in 23 games; 83 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 3 passes broken up
4-star – No. 23 LB; No. 215 overall in America; No. 10 in Maryland
2 years left + redshirt
1 start in 24 games; 53 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 5 passes broken up
3-star – No. 47 athlete; No. 656 overall in America; No. 54 in Georgia
3 years left + redshirt
7 starts in 13 games; 6.5 sacks, 11.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 3 forced fumbles, 69 tackles
5-star – No. 2 linebacker; No. 8 overall in America; No. 2 in Texas
Whit Weeks 6-3, 200, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 11 LB; No. 134 overall in America; No. 10 in Georgia
Christian Brathwaite 6-1, 213, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 26 LB; No. 480 overall in America; No. 52 in Texas
CORNERBACK (10)
1 year left
15 starts in 38 games; 2 INTs, 11 passes broken up, 3.5 TFLs, 47 tackles, 1 fumble recovered
4-star – No. 23 CB; No. 221 overall in America; No. 41 in Florida
Zy Alexander 6-3, 185, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
30 games; 9 INTs, 11 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 95 tackles
4-star transfer from Southeastern Louisiana
JK Johnson 6-0, 180, Jr.
3 years left
5 starts in 15 games with Ohio State; 22 tackles
4-star transfer from Ohio State
Duce Chestnut 6-0, 198, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
24 games with Syracuse; 4 INTs, 9 passes broken up, 83 tackles, 3.5 TFLs
4-star transfer from Syracuse
Denver Harris 5-11, 175, So.
3 years left + redshirt
5 games with Texas A&M; 3 passes broken up, 14 tackles
4-star transfer from Texas A&M
Laterrance Welch 6-2, 187, So.
3 years left + redshirt
12 games; 3 tackles
4-star – No. 16 CB; No. 113 overall in America; No. 9 in Louisiana
Jordan Allen 5-11, 195, Fr.
4 years left
4 games; 1.0 TFL, 1 tackle
3-star – No. 40 safety; No. 469 overall in America; No. 19 in Louisiana
Javien Toviano 6-0, 186, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 6 CB; No. 58 overall in America; No. 9 in Texas
Ashton Stamps 6-0, 167, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
3-star – No. 43 CB; No. 397 overall in America; No. 17 in Louisiana
Jeremiah Hughes 6-0, 176, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
3-star – No. 53 CB; No. 517 overall in America; No. 5 in Nevada
SAFETY (7)
Greg Brooks Jr. 5-10, 187, Super Sr.
1 year left + redshirt
43 starts in 47 games; 5 INTs, 11 passes broken up, 1 forced fumble, 173 tackles, 7.5 TFLs
3-star – No. 36 CB; No. 356 overall in America; No. 16 in Louisiana
2 years left + redshirt
9 starts in 13 games; 1 INT, 4 passes broken up, 3.5 TFLs, 57 tackles
4-star – No. 13 safety; No. 182 overall in America; No. 7 in Louisiana
3 years left
3 starts in 17 games; 3 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles, 25 tackles
5-star – No. 2 safety; No. 30 overall in America; No. 2 in Louisiana
Matthew Langlois 6-0, 202, So.
3 years left
10 games; No stats recorded
3-star – No. 36 safety; No. 468 overall in America; No. 15 in Louisiana
Ryan Yaites 6-0, 193, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 21 S; No. 250 overall in America; No. 42 in Texas
Michael Daugherty 6-0, 171, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 43 S; No. 421 overall in America; No. 45 in Georgia
Kylin Jackson 6-2, 196, Fr.
4 years left + redshirt
4-star – No. 12 S; No. 185 overall in America; No. 11 in Louisiana
SPECIAL TEAMS (5)
P – Jay Bramblett 6-2, 202, Gr.
1 year left + redshirt
211 punts with a 42.2 average, 67 down inside the 20-yard line
3-star – No. 1 punter; No. 59 in Alabama
LS – Slade Roy 6-2, 225, Jr.
2 years left + redshirt
25 games; 3 tackles
Unranked out of transfer portal
P – Peyton Todd 6-5, 242, So.
3 years left
Has not punted
3-star – No. 1 punter; No. 44 in Louisiana
K – Damian Ramos 6-2, 183, So.
3 years left
10-of-14 field goals, 48-of-50 PATs
Unranked out of high school
K – Nathan Dibert 5-11, 207, So.
3 years left + redshirt
31 touchbacks in 50 kickoffs
3-star – No. 6 kicker; No. 50 in Michigan
