Evaluating how LSU has handled this transfer portal cycle
LSU has no reason to panic about the transfer portal. Thus far, the program has seen four Tigers enter the portal. In a conversation with On3’s Andy Staples, the Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon broke down LSU’s early transfer decisions.
“That’s the spot you want to be in,” Dixon said. “Brian Kelly has built this roster up from 38 guys when he took over, to now having to balance of where you’re at with that 85 men scholarship limit. They went really heavy on high school signees. They’ve got more than 25 of them set to sign in December.”
LSU has the No. 13 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. The group includes 16 four-star prospects and 10 three-star recruits. Of LSU’s four transfers, three are former four-star talents.
However, none of them necessarily lived up to the hype. LSU’s highest-rated outgoing transfer is running back Armoni Goodwin. He did not played this season due to injury. The junior RB recorded 267 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the 2022 campaign.
LSU embraces new approach to the transfer portal
It’s a respectable stat line, but it’s nothing LSU can’t replace. Dixon believes Kelly’s eyes won’t be glued to the transfer portal this season.
“They want to add fewer than 10 players in the portal. That’s such a stark difference from where they were in those first two years. Now, you’ve got that balance on roster,” Dixon said. “People don’t forget natural attrition is a thing. Before the transfer portal, 10 guys left the school every year.
“It’s no different now than it was then, except you don’t have to ask permission to go to an SEC school and you don’t have to sit out if you’ve never transferred.”
LSU hasn’t been fortunate enough to only lose ten players per offseason in Kelly’s first two seasons at the helm. In the past two years, LSU has lost a combined 38 players to the transfer portal while bringing in 31.
The high rate of player turnover hasn’t stopped Kelly from finding success. LSU is on the cusp of its second-straight 10-win season, something the program has not done since 2010-2011 under head coach Les Miles.
Perhaps Kelly’s new approach to the transfer portal will push LSU past its previous success. Before the program can look to far ahead, the Tigers will face off against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.