LSU DB transfer Jardin Gilbert signs with Mississippi State

LSU defensive back Jardin Gilbert has signed with Mississippi State out of the NCAA transfer portal, On3 has learned. Gilbert entered the portal on Jan. 8 after spending two seasons in Baton Rouge.

The former Texas A&M transfer is expected to have one season of collegiate eligibility remaining despite playing in 42 career games across five collegiate seasons. He used a medical redshirt season in 2023.

Gilbert will arrive in Starkville boasting 145 career tackles, four tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, nine pass breakups, three interceptions and 1.5 sacks. Gilbert finished the 2025 season with 11 tackles and 0.5 sacks across five appearances.

This came after posting career-best numbers during the 2024 season — his first with LSU. He finished the year with 52 tackles, two PBUs, a forced fumble, an interception and half of a sack.

Prior to transferring to LSU, Gilbert spent three seasons at Texas A&M, where he started 12 of 24 games played, including a breakout sophomore year when he tallied a career-high 61 total tackles, six passes defended, four pass breakups and two interceptions while starting 10 of 11 games in 2022.

Gilbert also started two games in 2023 before season-ending shoulder surgery derailed his junior season with the Aggies, leading to his eventual eligibility for the 2026 season. Gilbert will have played all six years of his college career within the SEC.

Before college, Gilbert signed with Texas A&M as a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class out of University Lab in Baton Rouge. He was ranked as the No. 8 player out of Louisiana, the No. 12 safety in the class and the No. 182 player overall, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, which is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

He’ll now join a Mississippi State team that finished 2025 with a 5-8 record, including a 1-7 mark against the SEC. The Bulldogs were invited to play in the Mayo Bowl vs. Wake Forest after a litany of programs opted out of their respective postseason matchups.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this report.