Transfer Notes: LSU takes walk-on Preston Hickey while Derrick Davis heads to Pitt

The college football transfer portal continues to be very active. In recent days, LSU added a preferred walk on from Oklahoma State while three players from local schools found new homes.

LSU offered a preferred walk on to defensive tackle Preston Hickey. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound St. Paul’s product spent last season at Oklahoma State as a preferred walk on after rejecting an identical offer from Alabama as a true freshman in 2022.
Hickey, a former All-State performer, joins his former St. Paul’s teammate at LSU, tight end Jack Mashburn.

As a senior in 2021, Hickey turned into a receiver in an important win over rival Mandeville. Trailing 14-7 during a key drive, St. Paul’s quarterback Grant Billson lofted a seven-yard touchdown pass to Hickey who was lined up as a blocker and eligible receiver. Hickey made the catch with 46 ticks remaining in regulation. St. Paul’s won in overtime, 21-20.

Hickey, who models his game after another former LSU defensive tackle, longtime Buffalo Bills star Kyle Williams, runs a sub-5.00forty, squats 525 pounds and bench presses 405. He recorded 109 tackles with 28 for loss and seven sacks while at St. Paul’s. Hickey will get a look at nose tackle with the Tigers during spring practice.

Former LSU four-star signee Derrick Davis, Jr. entered the transfer portal December 12. Even though he played in the Citrus Bowl vs. Purdue with the Tigers, he has announced that he has signed with Pittsburgh.

Although he was pencilled in as a safety at LSU when he arrived, he spent more playing time as a running back. He had 11 carries for 57 yards. Against the Boilermakers, Davis had six carries for 29 yards and a touchdown. He totaled 3,898 yards rushing in high school, with 109 catches for 1,448 yards with 77 total touchdowns. David is expected to play running back at Pitt.

A product of Gateway High in Monroeville, Penn., Davis played in 12 games as a true freshman in ’21 but saw his playing time drop with the arrival of numerous defensive backs in the transfer portal once Brian Kelly took command in Baton Rouge.

After he visited the Pitt campus last weekend, Davis decided to return to his home state with the Panthers woth three years of eligibility remaining. He had considered Pitt, Penn State, Ohio State and Georgia before signing with LSU in 2021.

Former Tulane 2021 signee Hutson Lillibridge has transferred to Missouri State. The 6-3, 304-pound product of De Smet High in St. Louis made nine game appearances for the Green Wave this past season, but the offensive lineman was buried on the depth chart.

Former Scotlandville defensive end Bryce Cage spent the past two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana but he is headed to Texas State.

The 6-4, 260 pounder recorded four sacks for the Lions this season.

Cage previously considered ULM, McNeese, New Mexico, Arkansas-Monticello, Kansas and Southern before signing with SLU. He recorded 12 sacks as a senior at Scotlandville.