Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are working behind the scenes on the recruiting trail as this program revamps the roster ahead of next season.
On Friday, the Bayou Bengals added a pair of key Transfer Portal targets after revealing their commitments to the program.
It’s been a busy week for LSU. With nine total departures through the first two weeks of the portal and a pair of additions on Friday, the offseason is in full swing.
Who’s in? Who’s out?
The Official LSU Transfer Portal Tracker:
The Additions:
Zavion Thomas: Wide Receiver
The Bayou Bengals reeled in a pledge from Mississippi State wide receiver Zavion Thomas on Friday.
A proven return specialist with elite-level hands provides the Tigers with a monster weapon ahead of the 2024 season.
After two years in Starkville, Thomas was ready for a change of scenery, electing to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Now, the Louisiana native is a Tiger after this program showed immediate attention to the elite wideout and return specialist.
Thomas is a player we expected the Tigers to handle sooner rather than later. Despite being a hot commodity in the portal, LSU put a full court press on him with an unofficial visit taking place on Monday.
After a 2023 season where he totaled 503 yards on 40 receptions, Thomas will be a key piece to what LSU builds next season. Keep tabs on the Louisiana native as both a coveted wideout for this program as well as return specialist.
Thomas became commitment No. 2 on the day after LSU reeled in a pledge from former Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert.
Jardin Gilbert: Safety
Another Louisiana native, the former U-High standout returns home to suit up in the purple and gold with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
A 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, Gilbert attains the size this program is looking for as they push for more defensive backs via the portal.
In 2023, Gilbert entered the season as a starter at Texas A&M, but had his junior campaign cut short after suffering a shoulder injury after just two games. In two games played, he totaled five tackles, a pass breakup and was in on a tackle for loss.
After 23 games in College Station, the prized safety was prepared for a change of scenery as well with the LSU Tigers making the call.
Now, the Louisiana native returns home with the chance to represent the Bayou Bengals to cap off his college career.
The Departures:
Sage Ryan: Defensive Back
Ryan, who’s served as a Swiss Army Knife in the secondary during his time with LSU, started in nine of the Tigers’ 12 games during the 2023 season with major contributions coming at cornerback after the program needed reinforcements.
The Louisiana native broke up three passes and recorded 35 tackles – 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Ryan played 620 snaps and finished with a PFF grade of 74.0 in coverage.
The former five-star recruits departure from Baton Rouge comes as a bit of a surprise. After earning significant playing time as a redshirt sophomore, there were expectations that he could continue taking that next step for this program.
Fitzgerald West: Defensive Lineman
The Louisiana native will have three years of eligibility at his next destination.
It’s been a unique two years in the purple and gold for West after switching from both sides of the ball during his time in Death Valley.
During the 2023 season, he made the transition to defense where he felt comfortable moving forward. Despite a lack of playing time, West has found his position for the future.
“I like it. I’m used to it. I’ve been playing it almost all my life so it’s natural for me,” West said. “I’d say the transition learning plays and stuff though, it’s not too hard for me. I pretty much know the scheme, so I know my assignment every play.”
Marlon Martinez: Offensive Lineman
LSU offensive lineman Marlon Martinez has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after four seasons in Baton Rouge.
Martinez, who primarily served as a backup for Brian Kelly’s program, will enter as a graduate transfer with immediate eligibility at his next destination.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder out of Florida was a member of the Tigers’ 2020 recruiting class and now looks to make an impact sooner rather than later after gaining SEC experience.
Martinez started four games for LSU in 45 games played over four seasons.
Quency Wiggins: Defensive End
Wiggins, a former four-star, Top 50 prospect in the 2022 cycle, was a coveted player for the Tigers during the recruitment process.
One of the top defensive ends in America, the expectations were that Wiggins’ development would hit at an efficient rate, but without a defensive line coach this season, his growth was stunted.
Wiggins appeared in less than 10 games for the Tigers across two seasons and will now enter the free agency market in search of a program where he can make an immediate impact.
A raw, versatile defensive lineman, Wiggins will be a hot commodity in the Transfer Portal.
A player who still has all of the intangibles of being an effective player at a Power Five program, look for the former high four-star recruit to find a home sooner rather than later.
Jackson McGohan: Tight End
McGohan, one of three freshman tight ends in the Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class, departs with several potential suitors in line for his services.
After playing in eight games in Year 1, McGohan’s skill set intrigued those within the program, but the LSU tight end depth chart remains stacked.
Junior Mason Taylor will return for the 2024 season along with freshmen Mac Markway and Ka’Morreun Pimpton. The Tigers also went out and added JUCO prospect Connor Gilbreath in July as well despite his outlook appearing to be at offensive line moving forward.
Looking ahead to the future, the Tigers also reeled in coveted prospect Trey’Dez Green in the 2024 class. A four-star Louisiana native, he’ll also look to compete for reps early.
Bryce Langston: Defensive Lineman
Langston, a former four-star prospect, signed with the Tigers in 2021, but only played in four games in the purple and gold over his time in Louisiana.
A Sunshine State native, Langston was one of the top signees for the Tigers in the 2021 cycle, but never received adequate playing time with the program.
Now, after remaining with the program and patiently waiting in an era when it’s easy to depart in the blink of an eye, Langston has made a business decision in search of playing time.
The 6-foot-3, 293-pounder became the fourth LSU Tiger to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, joining running backs Armoni Goodwin and Kevontre Bradford along with cornerback Laterrance Welch at the time.
Kevontre Bradford: Running Back
Bradford signed with LSU out of high school in 2020, but after just one season with the Tigers, he announced his departure before committing to Oklahoma.
Despite leaving Baton Rouge and heading to the Big 12, Bradford didn’t even play a snap with the Sooners.
The Texas native would then depart Oklahoma and return to the Tigers once again for his second stint, but stepped away from the team completely before the 2022 season.
It had been nearly two years since Bradford took a snap at the college level, and with Kelly giving him a third chance, it added depth to the running back room.
Now, Bradford departs once again with an opportunity to receive snaps elsewhere. After taking the first reps of the season at running back against Florida State in Week 1, Bradford didn’t take another snap.
Armoni Goodwin: Running Back
Goodwin, who did not receive any snaps this season, has battled injuries throughout his time with the program which saw his status on the depth chart drop significantly.
As a true freshman in 2021, Goodwin record 16 carries for 65 yards and zero touchdowns, but coming into Year 2 with the Tigers, he received significant snaps.
Goodwin entered the year as the Tigers’ RB1 before a knee injury ended his season early. In his sophomore campaign, he totaled 45 carries for 267 yards and five touchdowns.
Once back in a rhythm during Fall Camp in 2023, Goodwin remained a player moving at half speed coming off of an injury.
Now, the former Top 150 prospect in America is back on the market looking to earn significant playing time.
The LSU running back room remains a position group with promise. The Tigers return Logan Diggs, the 2023 starter, and four scholarship backs for next season.
Along with retaining depth, running backs coach Frank Wilson secured Top 10 2024 running hack Caden Durham. A player who can make an immediate impact, the purple and gold are loaded at the running back position moving forward.
Laterrance Welch: Cornerback
A former four-star, Top 150 prospect in the 2022 cycle, Welch is a player with significant upside as he navigates the next chapter of his playing career.
Welch played in 96 snaps on defense this season, according to PFF, while also taking reps with the special teams unit.
For the Tigers, there remains concern surrounding their defensive backfield with a lack of depth moving forward.
As it stands, LSU holds Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut, Denver Harris, JK Johnson, Sage Ryan, Ashton Stamps, Javien Toviano and Jeremiah Hughes, among others moving forward.
Both Chestnut and Harris did not suit up for the Tigers during the back half of the 2023 season for unspecified reasons while Johnson missed the year after suffering a lower-body injury that required surgery.
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