LSU DB Mansoor Delane named an AP All-American

LSU senior cornerback Mansoor Delane added another first-team All-America honor to his resume on Monday as he was selected to the Associated Press squad, the organization announced.

This year marks the 100^th AP All-America team, a group that has been selected each season since 1925.

Delane becomes the 37^th first-team AP All-America selection for the Tigers as he joins a distinguished list that began with Gaynell Tinsley earning the school’s first honor from AP in 1935.

It also marks the third consecutive year the Tigers have placed a player on the AP All-America team. Last year, offensive tackle Will Campbell earned first-team honors, following quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers who made the list in 2023.

Delane’s selection makes him the ninth LSU defensive back to earn a place on the AP squad, eight of which have come since LaRon Landry made the team in 2006. Other LSU defensive backs to earn first-team AP All-America honors include: Derek Stingley (2019), Grant Delpit (2018), Morris Claiborne (2011), Tyrann Mathieu (2011), Patrick Peterson (2010), Craig Steltz (2007), and Tommy Casanova (1970).

Delane made an immediate impact in his only season at LSU after transferring from Virginia Tech, helping the Tigers produce one of the nation’s top defenses when it comes to defending the pass. LSU finished the regular-season leading the SEC in pass efficiency defense, interceptions (17), passes defended (67) and pass breakups (50).

LSU was also the only team in the SEC to have more interceptions than touchdown passes allowed as the Tigers gave up only 10 passing TDs all season. The 10 passing TDs allowed are the fewest for an LSU defense since yielding nine in 2016.

A starter in 11 games in 2025, Delane made his mark as a lock-down cornerback for the Tigers with opponents rarely throwing in his direction. In 358 pass coverage snaps, Delane allowed only 13 receptions all season for 147 yards and six first downs. He didn’t’ allow a passing touchdown and was targeted only 9.8 percent of the time. Opponents had a completion percentage success rate of 37.1 percent on passes thrown in his direction. 

One of three finalists for the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back, Delane has also been named first-team All-SEC by the league coaches.

Delane capped his senior season leading the SEC in passes defended with 13. He added 45 tackles, a pair of interceptions and a quarterback hurry.

LSU’s All-Time First-Team AP All-Americas

Year      Player (Position)

1935      Gaynell Tinsley (End)

1936      Gaynell Tinsley (End)

1958      Billy Cannon (Back)

1959      Billy Cannon (Back)

1961      Roy “Moonie” Winston (Linebacker)

1962      Jerry Stovall (Back)

1970      Tommy Casanova (Defensive Back)

1970      Mike Anderson (Linebacker)

1973      Tyler Lafauci (Guard)

1985      Michael Brooks (Linebacker)

1987      Nacho Albergamo (Center)

1996      Kevin Faulk (All-Purpose)

1997      Alan Faneca (Offensive Line)

1997      Chad Kessler (Punter)

1998      Booger McFarland (Defensive Line)

2001      Josh Reed (Wide Receiver)

2003      Chad Lavalais (Defensive Line)

2004      Marcus Spears (Defensive Line)

2006      LaRon Landry (Defensive Back)

2006      Glenn Dorsey (Defensive Line)

2007      Glenn Dorsey (Defensive Line)

2007      Craig Steltz (Defensive Back)

2008      Herman Johnson (Offensive Line)

2010      Patrick Peterson (Defensive Back)

2011      Morris Claiborne (Defensive Back)

2011      Tyrann Mathieu (Defensive Back)

2011      Brad Wing (Punter)

2015      Leonard Fournette (Running Back)

2018      Devin White (Linebacker)

2018      Grant Delpit (Defensive Back)

2019      Joe Burrow (Quarterback)

2019      Ja’Marr Chase (Wide Receiver)

2019      Derek Stingley (Defensive Back)

2023      Malik Nabers (Wide Receiver)

2023      Jayden Daniels (Quarterback)

2024      Will Campbell (Offensive Line)

2025      Mansoor Delane (Defensive Back)

Draft Watch

For LSU, star corner Mansoor Delane is the name to watch. The transfer finds himelf headed to the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 11 pick in the the 2026 NFL Draft. Delane is the first corner selected off the board in Yates’ draft.

“A notable need for the Vikings is cornerback, where the team is lacking depth behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Enter Delane, who took his game to another level after transferring from Virginia Tech before this season. He has excellent size for the position (6-foot, 190 pounds) and thrives using force at the catch point to disrupt the ball. Delane is at his best playing off coverage and reading the quarterback, though he is also a willing run defender who could thrive in Brian Flores’ aggressive system. When targeted as the primary coverage player this season, he surrendered the third-lowest completion percentage in the FBS (27.8%).”

Delane has had quite a year during his lone season in Baton Rouge, helping the Tigers amass the top-rated pass efficiency defense in the SEC.