Portal Notes: Will Sheppard, Jackson McGohan find new homes

A pair of players with local ties have found new homes in the transfer portal.

Former Mandeville wide receiver Will Sheppard has landed at Colorado. The 6-foot-3, 198 pounder ranks seventh in Vanderbilt history with 152 catches for 2,067 yards and 21 scores.

Tight end Jackson McGohan, a 3-star signee in the 2023 class at LSU, has decided he will suit up for the Wisconsin Badgers. The native of Miamisburg, Ohio collected 99 passes for 1,640 yards and 22 touchdowns during his final two seasons in high school. McGohan (6-4, 235) did not record a catch for the Tigers this past season.

Some players who are on LSU’s radar as the transfer portal process continues to gain momentum…

– Defensive tackle JaMaree Caldwell (6-1, 325) had 27 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Houston Cougars in 2023.

– Tyreek Chappell (5-11,185; 4.45) was a Freshman All-American two seasons ago at Texas A&M. The Philadelphia native has totaled 30 starts for the Aggies. Chappell tracks the ball very well, looks solid in press coverage, shows good anticipation, reads routes quickly and explodes out of his backpedal.

– Strong safety Phillip Dunnam (6-1,190) had 53 tackles, three interceptions and six passes defended for the Indiana Hoosiers this past season and allowed only 18 catches last season. His uncle is former NBA standout Udonis Haslem while his cousins E.J. Biggers and Louis Delmas reached the NFL.

– Cornerback Jyaire Brown (5-11, 183) will be a junior in 2024 but is leaving Ohio State. He possesses natural cover skills, plays with a swagger, makes great break on the ball and closes quickly. He spent 2018 and ’19 at Warren Easton High in New Orleans.

– Cornerback Decamerion Richardson (6-2, 195), a product of Bossier City, made 26 starts at Mississippi State. He recorded 12 tackles vs. Southern Miss this season. A very disruptive defender, Richardson Has 177 career stops.

– Free safety Jardin Gilbert (6-1, 200) a former 4-star prospect in the 2021 class out of University Lab, played 25 games at Texas A&M (79 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions). He has good ball skills, loose hips and explosiveness. Gilbert is willing in run support, very instinctive and a solid open field tackler. A Baton Rouge product who plays a position where LSU needs to help and experience could lead to a homwcoming.

-Offensive lineman Rimington Strickland (6-4, 300) has played guard and center at Texas A&M but he is more capable at center. With two years of eligibility remaining, he has offers from Boston College, Illinois, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Kansas, SMU and Arizona State.