LSU’s DeMario Tolan enters transfer portal as linebacker depth becomes a concern

Linebacker suddenly has become more of a position of vital importance to bolster at LSU with the surprise announcement that DeMario Tolan has entered transfer portal.

Ranked as the 20th best linebacker in the 2022 class, the 6-foot-2, 222 pounder was considered a player the staff was going to count upon to make a big splash in 2023.

Despite surgery this past summer, Tolan managed to make appearances in 12 games this season, contributing 10 stops and excelling in coverage. Tolan was expected to pair with 2022 super freshman Harold Perkins to form a dynamic duo at the position.

The only other remaining linebackers on the current LSU roster are Greg Penn III and West Weeks. High school signees Whit Weeks and Christian Braithwaite will come aboard but the Tigers will be short handed entering spring practice.

Brian Kelly and his staff are surely going to scour the transfer portal to seek help. There are still quite a few days before the transfer portal closes on January 28. It then reopens May 1.

The only viable candidate that I can now identify currently in the portal is Julien Simon, a 2021 four-star signee with USC. The 6-1, 230 pounder is considered an inside line backer but he is good in coverage. Simon was considered the 14th rated player at linebacker in the 2021 class. He also has earned a PAC-12 Academic Honor Roll honor in 2021.

As for where LSU has rated Simon or anyone else remains to be seen but this coaching staff has acted decisively to address needs in the portal.