While a challenging 9-4 season marked by losses to ranked opponents like USC, Texas A&M, and Alabama may have left LSU Tigers fans frustrated, the team ended the year on a high note with a 44-31 victory over Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl.
Even more promising news for LSU comes from the transfer portal, where the Tigers have assembled the No. 1 ranked class, according to 247Sports. LSU has added a total of 14 commitments this offseason, including eight four-star recruits, which is sure to bolster the roster for the upcoming season.
The highest-rated transfer is EDGE Patrick Payton, a four-star player from Florida State, who ranked No. 2 in 247Sports’ transfer portal player rankings. Another key addition is wide receiver Nic Anderson from Oklahoma, who ranks No. 11 overall. Anderson, who had 38 receptions for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, missed the 2024 season due to a quadriceps injury but brings high upside to the LSU offense.
Other notable four-star transfers include wide receiver Barion Brown (Kentucky), cornerback Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech), EDGE Jack Pyburn (Florida), interior offensive linemen Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech) and Josh Thompson (Northwestern), and cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson (Florida).
However, LSU did face some losses in the transfer portal, with two four-star players departing: wide receiver CJ Daniels, who transferred to Miami, and EDGE Da’Shawn Womack, who moved to Ole Miss.
In addition to its success in the transfer portal, LSU currently holds the No. 8 spot in 247Sports’ composite team recruiting rankings. This class is highlighted by five-star cornerback DJ Pickett, ranked No. 19 overall.
At the close of his third season with LSU, head coach Brian Kelly boasts a 29-11 record, having guided the Tigers to three consecutive bowl victories. Despite the 9-4 finish, Kelly’s nine-win total marks his first season without at least 10 wins since 2016, his seventh year at Notre Dame when the Fighting Irish finished 4-8. Nonetheless, LSU’s strong recruiting and transfer portal success signal an optimistic future for the program under Kelly’s leadership.
