LSU linebacker Christian Brathwaite enters NCAA Transfer Portal
LSU redshirt freshman linebacker Christian Brathwaite has entered the transfer portal, further adding to the attrition LSU faces this offseason. Brathwaite spent one season at LSU after flipping his high school commitment from Baylor to LSU in October of 2022.
Brathwaite appeared in five games, including the bowl game, to retain his redshirt in 2023. He recorded three total tackles on the year, but was consistently on special teams throughout the year.
Throughout spring, Brathwaite had been running with the third team behind Greg Penn, Harold Perkins, Whit Weeks, and West Weeks. Freshman early enrollee Davhon Keys was often alongside him on those reps.
Brathwaite was the No. 400 player in the country on the On3 industry rankings and the No. 38 linebacker in the country out of Cy Ranch High School in Houston. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Brathwaite showed good instincts and downhill speed, but was not able to breakthrough in his one year at LSU.
As a senior at Cy Ranch (Cypress, Texas), Brathwaite logged 106 total tackles, 43 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 7 quarterback pressures, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 1 blocked kick.
Matt House and the former LSU defensive staff were dismissed after the 2023 season and in stepped new defensive coordinator Blake Baker with an overhauled staff. After a couple months of work in the spring, both LSU and some of its defensive talent knew it was time to move on. The Tigers are still in need of help at defensive tackle, as Brian Kelly has mentioned on several occasions. Brathwaits is one of three defensive players to have transfered out on Friday as of the time of publishing this story. He is joined by defensive backs Ryan Yaites and Jeremiah Hughes.
Stay tuned to the Bengal Tiger On3 for the latest portal news.
