LSU / DBU'S 2022 TRANSFER PORTAL SHOPPING LIST

by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

With news of even more transfers affecting the Tigers, specifically at LSU's once rich cornerback spot, Brian Kelly has some transfer business he must attend to...and on January 11th as we prepared this piece expecting names to drop, a few transfer targets enthusiastically signed.

While there are a few key Tigers LSU will be watching for when February's final signing day comes around (Jacoby Mathews, Danny Lewis, as well as Ajay Allen are among a few others we'll talk about in our upcoming NSD II piece), the Tigers know their most immediate roster priorities lie in the transfer portal.

Stealing current starters away from blue blood rivals is a big deal, especially when those players are capable of starting and contributing immediately, often at an even higher level than the names they're tasked with replacing...

Don't forget: LSU enjoyed a wondrous transfer legacy under Coach Ed Orgeron....this squad should sustain that success times 10....pedal completely rammed to the floor as real football people, with real football addictions and real football answers to the football questions, geaux to work....

So.....after Kelly's arrival, LSU already locked in huge OL transfer target Miles Frazier out of Florida International; Frazier was being eyed and prized by Ohio State, UCLA and Penn State among an offer list which continued to grow.

Now, after starting strong, which needs will Kelly address first & foremost?

Heading into 2022, what are the nagging priorities only the transfer portal can solve?

While the Tigers are no strangers to losing oodles of talent each year in the NFL Draft, our 2022 DBU roster have already undergone a complete transformation from 2021.

First, #7 and DBU leader Derek Stingley Jr remained injured throughout the year, obviously choosing a business decision to sit out after his ankle problems couldn't be solved.

Stingley will be the first corner selected in this spring's Draft, and I wouldn't be shocked if he was grabbed within the top 3 picks, although that will depend upon team needs.

Second, Eli Ricks, one of the most beloved Tigers in recent memory, tapped to wear Stingley's #7 jersey next, unforgivably transferred to Alabama, even trolling LSU fans by posting "#7" on his "vague tweet-happy" Twitter profile.

After the country's top coverage tandem left the program, LSU still had strong talents:

Junior Cordale Flott rode a tough sophomore year toward 2021 bliss, proving to be one of the nation's top coverage men throughout the entirety of last year.

Now, he's headed to the NFL alongside best friend Stingley Jr...forgoing a potential 4th year in 2022...

Sophomore Dwight McGlothern Jr went from riding the bench to suddenly playing huge reps over his first two seasons, playing long snaps vs Florida (including a pick six in 2021), and once Stingley went down, Nudie started the final 9 games of his second year.

Now, LSU's most experienced & talented cornerback has announced he will enter his name into the transfer portal....

Joining him?

Raydarious Jones, a corner who won a championship playing rarely across 2019, only appeared in 3 games without a statistic in 2020, and while he did rip off an interception in LSU's last Spring Game, Jones appeared in just 4 total games as a junior, helping himself to 9 tackles, 5 as a solo artist, 0.5 tackle for loss, and a single pass break up.

An LSU Odyssey source is telling us Jones will enter his name into the portal, though we've reached out to Jones himself for comment before confirming.

Alongside losing DBU Miyagi Corey Raymond's decade of experience as a Tiger assistant, his two Championship rings from 2007 (as part of Tommy Moffitt's Strength & Conditioning team) & 2019, LSU will have to rebuild DBU brick by brick.....and the transfer portal may be just the place to start.

Holding far too much inexperience at cornerback, Damarius McGhee, Jordan Allen (who I believe will play safety in the end) and Latterance Welch being the only trio of cornerbacks signed over the past 2 recruiting cycles, it is imperative that LSU's DB staff do everything they can to grab elite talent through the portal....and Tuesday was a hell of a start.

Outside of Stingley, Ricks, McGlothern and Flott, only 2020 & 2021 Nicholls State walk-ons Darren Evans and Quinton "Pig" Cage have played with any consistency, and we've only seen Cage start a single outing (3 TFLs, 6 tackles & 1 sack during the Texas Bowl), simultaneously Evans is either hit or miss on the outside.

Right now, it appears Kerry Cooks is on a mission to repair DBU and these names are at the top of his transfer portal shopping list:

-LOUISIANA NATIVE

-4 Star talent

Eligibility Remaining: 4 Years

Rivals, 247 and ESPN all ranked Shreveport native Eric Reed among the top 7 recruits in all of Louisiana as a member of the 2020 recruiting class; Reed was a 4 star talent, a prospect capable of playing both cornerback or safety, Reed only saw rare snaps for Auburn, failing to notch a statistic in either 2020 or 2021.

Reed still claims 4 years of eligibility left, including the Covid red shirt year.

Expect him to sign.

-LOUISIANA NATIVE

-2 Years Starting in the SEC West

Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years

111 tackles, 8 PBUs, 5.5 TFL, 4 INTs, 2 FF, and 1 INT TD RET across 33 appearances over 3 seasons for Arkansas, Brooks Jr was among the SEC's best defensive backs throughout his Razorbacks' tenure.

Now, Brooks Jr is also another Louisiana native, hailing from Harvey, starring for West Jefferson High, Greg wanted an LSU offer desperately as a senior in high school.

Despite some strong camp outings, it never came his way from Corey Raymond....

Now, three years down the road and still possessing two full years of eligibility left, Brooks Jr is a Tiger lock who I'm told "will join LSU".

-15 PBUs and 3 INTs over 2 seasons

Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years

The Mesquite, TX talent posted 31 tackles, 0.5 Sack, 1 FF & 8 PBUs for the Rajun Cajuns in 2021. His 2020 debutant campaign was even more attractive statistically:

Garner stole 3 INTs, snagged 1 forced fumble, grabbed a sack & added 7 PBUs (multiple apps. of 3+ PBUs in two seasons).

Now, after Garner was offered by LSU, he has signed for the Tigers, effective 1/11.

JOE FOUCHA (Arkansas)

-LOUISIANA NATIVE

-40 Apps for Arkansas

-3 Seasons of 60+ Tackles

Eligibility Remaining: 2 Years

The safety emphatically signed for the Tigers, returning back to his home state of Louisiana and within touching distance of his hometown New Orleans, effective 1/11.

Over four seasons at Arkansas, Foucha racked up 230 tackles, 100 solo, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 12 PBUs, 4 INTs, 2 forced fumbles and another pair of recoveries.

Foucha totaled 72 stops last year, 60 in 2020 and a whopping 87 as a sophomore.

OTHER TARGETS:

(SAF) Khari Gee (Notre Dame)

(TE) Michael Trigg (USC)

(DE) Jared Verse (ALBANY)

(QB) Caleb Williams (OU)

(LB) West Weeks (VA)

(WR) Kyren Lacy (ULL)

SHOUTOUTS: Sarah Johnson!!!! &.....BARB!!!!