Transfer Portal: LSU football departures and targets

The transfer portal door has swung wide open as many teams are either wrapping up spring drills or have recently completed them.

One motivating factor prompting these moves is the impending roster limit reduction to 85 players for college football programs. As one player arrives at a new location, another might be leaving to ensure the team stays within the 85-man ceiling.

Here are some LSU players who have decided to seek greener pastures via the transfer portal since spring practice concluded Saturday:

Wide receiver Khai Prean, a 6-0, 202-pound product of St. James, was ranked as the 18th best receiver in the nation in the 2023 class. During his senior year of high school, he amassed 61 receptions for 1,097 yards and 14 touchdowns. He did not record any stats during his freshman season at LSU.

In a recent evaluation of the ’24 squad prior to spring practice, I cited Prean as a player who could potentially be shifted to another position for more playing time. However, this did not happen. He currently has a “do not contact” status outside his door in the portal, indicating he likely has a good idea of where he may be heading next.

Edge rusher Jaxon Howard, another signee from the 2023 class and the top-ranked player in the state of Minnesota that year, entered the portal last week. He has already garnered strong interest from his homestate Minnesota Gophers, as well as Kansas.

Tight end Connor Gilbreath (6-5, 265) arrived on campus last year after playing one season at Butte JUCO. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Gilbreath played in 13 games this past season (56 snaps), primarily as a blocker in goal-line or short-yardage situations. Before opting for LSU, he received offers from North Carolina State, Washington, Miami, Portland State, Colorado, Mississippi State, and Arizona.

Cornerback Ryan Robinson, Jr. (5-11, 180) joined LSU in 2023 as a preferred walk-on over offers from Nebraska, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Toledo, Ole Miss, Oregon, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, UCF, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Memphis, Duke, Virginia, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Tulane.

As a three-year starter at Edna Karr, Robinson collected 43 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions in his senior year of 2022. He played in four games as a freshman at LSU last season, mostly on special teams with 16 total defensive snaps against Grambling.

Several names from other schools have entered the transfer portal play positions of great need that LSU coach Brian Kelly has emphasized, particularly defensive tackle:

Phillip Blidi (6-3, 295) from Indiana, who attended LSU’s spring game last Saturday, shares mutual interest with the Tigers. He started his college football career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana in 2023. Blidi started in 11 games for the Hoosiers last season, totaling 40 tackles with 2.5 sacks during his 35 games at Texas Tech.

C.J. West (6-1, 315) from Kent State is seeking a program that can prepare him for the NFL during his final season of eligibility. With an overall grade of 85.9 (468 snaps) from Pro Football Focus in 2023, West has received interest from several schools including Michigan, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Colorado, Indiana, Miami and Rutgers.

Damonic Williams (6-2, 300) from TCU has two years of eligibility remaining. He made 60 tackles last season with 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, earning him 2023 Big 12 Honorable Mention for defensive lineman of the year.

Derrick Shepard (6-3, 305) from Cincinnati has three years remaining. A 4-star prospect in 2022, Shepard played in four contests in 2023.

Jermayne Lole (6-3, 310) from Louisville has one year remaining. Lole played in 12 games this past season, accumulating 199 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his five-year career to date at Arizona State and Louisville.

Additionally, some local notables have entered the portal:

Running back Trevonte Citizen (Lake Charles College Prep), who has three years remaining, was the 144th overall prospect in the 2022 class and the 9th best in Louisiana. He signed with Miami but suffered an ACL injury as a freshman.

Edge rusher J’Mond Tapp (6-3, 266) from Texas, a 4-star recruit in 2022, has three years remaining.

Defensive back Jacoby Matthews (6-2, 215), considered the top prospect in Louisiana in the 2022 class, had 12 starts at Texas A&M at safety over the past two seasons.

Cornerback Greedy Vance (5-11, 170) from Florida State played at Louisville for two seasons before transferring to the Seminoles. Vance made 13 appearances for the ‘Noles last season.

Maurice Hampton, a two-sport standout (football/baseball) who arrived at LSU and played 15 games for the Tigers baseball team before transferring to Memphis, is back on the market.

For some lagniappe related to the hardwood, a name familiar to Tiger basketball fans is available again. Bradley Ezewiro, who played for LSU in the 2021-22 season before moving to Georgetown and then Saint Louis, has shown interest in returning to Baton Rouge.