LSU pushing for a new name in Transfer Portal
LSU head coach Brian Kelly and his staff have taken full advantage of the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason, adding 12 new players to the roster ahead of the 2023 season.
And with multiple offers out to uncommitted transfers, the number is likely to grow.
On Tuesday, Rhode Island safety Antonio Carter was offered a verbal scholarship to join the LSU football team.
Carter, who has been in the NCAA Transfer Portal since April 16, has already stacked up a double-digit offer list that includes LSU and Florida over the past 24 hours. Notre Dame, Kentucky, West Virginia, Minnesota, Baylor, Louisville, Texas A&M, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Washington and Ole Miss are some schools that have offered as well.
What’s up next for Antonio Carter?
The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder out of Orlando (Fla.) has already made visits to both Ole Miss and Wisconsin, and he’s slated to visit Kentucky this weekend (May 13-15).
With spring practices around the country now complete, and summer workouts not beginning until June, Carter has the chance to continue to make visits before choosing his transfer destination.
LSU will look to land one of those visits, and a commitment would give the Tigers some much-needed help at safety from a prospect who has two years of eligibility remaining.
As a two-year starter in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) at Rhode Island, Carter totaled 105 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 17 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
In 2022, Carter started all 11 games for Rhode Island, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 60 in addition to 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and 10 pass breakups.
According to the On3 Transfer Portal rankings, Carter is a three-star prospect and the 11th best prospect available.
Carter is ranked behind UAB transfer Jaylen Key as the No. 2 best available safety in the transfer portal.
Prior to his three seasons at Rhode Island, Carter played high school football at Oak Ridge in Florida, where he earned Second-Team All-Metro honors in 2018. Carter’s offer list coming out of high school also included Wagner, Fordham, and Gardner-Webb, but thanks to a solid showing in the CAA, the Sunshine State native now has plenty of options at the Power 5 level.
LSU and the outlook at safety
One of the biggest needs for LSU remains safety, a position that is short on proven depth beyond a pair of returning starters.
The Tigers bring back Greg Brooks Jr. and Major Burns, though both missed time in spring practices with injury, and Burns is coming off a 2022 season where he missed time with injury.
The lone backup safety with any notable game experience is rising junior Sage Ryan, though he saw first-team reps at a different position (nickel) during spring practices.
Safety Matthew Langlois was sidelined this spring as he recovers from injury, which opened the door for freshman Jordan Allen and early-enrollees Javien Toviano and Ryan Yaites to see time at the position. The Tigers also signed a handful of other safety prospects in the 2023 class, including local four-star Kylin Jackson.
