LSU has three more football players enter transfer portal

Brian Kelly knew that when LSU spring drills concluded, the transfer portal floodgates would open. He had an idea which players on the roster would take flight.

Now, as many as seven players from the LSU 2023 football roster have entered the transfer portal. Recently, edge Jaxon Howard (transferred to Minnesota), receiver Khai Prean, cornerback Ryan Robinson and tight end Connor Gilbreath departed. Today, three more have decided to test the transfer portal waters: cornerback Jeremiah Hughes, linebacker Christian Braithwaite and safety Ryan Yaites.

Hughes hails from Las Vegas. The 3-star signee in 2023 played 24 defensive snaps last season and 181 more on special teams, contributing to kick return, kick coverage, and punt return units. He has three years remaining.

Braithwaite out Cypress, Texas will have four years remaining. He played in five contests, producing three tackles. He was used in 48 total snaps on special teams in three contests and 78 more on defense.

Yaites was a 4-star prospect in the 2023 class. The 6’1″, 200-pound native of Denton, Texas has three seasons of eligibility remaining. He played 242 total snaps as a freshman last season, with 124 on defense and 118 on special teams, participating in 13 contests, recording 16 stops, and breaking up one pass. Yaites was the 16th-ranked safety in the ’23 class.

Notably, none of trio are from Louisiana.

LSU will host the top defensive tackle prospect in the 2024 transfer portal, Michigan State’s Simeon Barrow. Kelly has emphasized the vital importance of addressing the interior defensive line moving ahead in the offseason.

The 6’3″, 290-pound Barrow will make his first visit to the Baton Rouge campus Sunday. In 34 college games so far, he has recorded 110 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, with a pair of blocked field goals.

Although nothing official has been set up, with the recent departures of three secondary players to the transfer portal and the uncertainty at that spot moving forward, expect LSU to pursue Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain.

Labeled “a generational talent” by recruiters in the 2023 class, the 6’2″, 170-pound McClain was tabbed as the top-rated cover corner in the 2023 class, boasting 4.5 speed, outstanding change of direction, excellent ball skills and instincts. The Lakeland, Florida native is considered a difference maker in the secondary and will have three years of eligibility.

Meanwhile, a pair of local players entered the transfer portal this week: Ronald “Champ” Lewis and Elinus Noel.

Lewis, a 3-star prospect out of Warren Easton in the 2022 class, originally committed to Texas but ultimately signed with TCU. The 6’1″, 180-pound athlete finished second in the state 110-meter hurdles in the spring of 2022 with a time of 14.31.

Noel, a 6’2″, 320-pound force on the defensive line, signed with Nicholls State out of John Curtis in 2021. After one season, he transferred to Texas Southern where he wpent two years. In 2023, Noel accumulated 52 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He has two seasons remaining and has received offers from North Carolina State, Arkansas and Maryland.