Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Jan 19, 20225 min
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
When analyzing where LSU's historically depleted roster found themselves during the 2022 Texas Bowl, as well as throughout the 2021 and 2020 seasons (left to just 49 players vs Florida in 2020, then 39 scholarship Tigers for this January's Texas Bowl), it became obvious Brian Kelly's salvation would come through the transfer portal.
And since his arrival, LSU have grabbed every highly prized talent available, from Florida International's 4 star level OL Miles Frazier, today's pick up of All-SEC Freshman DE Mekhi Wingo, or a slew of DB and trench depth from SEC and Power 5 rivals, Kelly and his now full staff have catapulted the Tigers all the way up to #1 of 24/7 Sports' overall national transfer portal ranking.
With 11 transfers signed in total, joined by LSU's 11 commits from the 2022 class, the Tigers now have just 8 spots remaining over the next month as National Signing Day looms just over the horizon.
Today's signing of OL Tre'Mond Shorts and Missouri's DE Mekhi Wingo really elevates Brian Kelly's debut class to an even higher degree; Alongside LSU's ability to retain their veteran pillars from 2021's roster (Boutte, Ward, Ojulari, Gaye, Jenkins, Baskerville) next to their depth at QB, skill positions, and of course, along the trenches, I see immediate contention ahead for the Tigers.
So far, here are the names:
TRANSFERS IN
MILES FRAZIER (OL) FIU
SLADE ROY (LS) East Carolina
MEKHI GARNER (CB) ULL
JOE FOUCHA (DB) Arkansas
GREG BROOKS JR (CB) Arkansas
NOAH CAIN (RB) Penn State
KYREN LACY (WR) ULL
WEST WEEKS (LB) Virginia
FRANK WILSON IV (DB) McNeese
JAY BRAMBLETT (P) Notre Dame
MEKHI WINGO (DE) Missouri
TRE'MOND SHORTS (OL) East Tenn. State
TRANSFERS THWARTED
MYLES BRENNAN (QB) LSU
We cover some of our future targets to look out for in this piece from just a day or so ago, a piece where we were wrong on O'Cyrus Torrence, but also previewed West Weeks' abilities and predicted the arrival of Wingo & Shorts, all while offering up the name of a very tantalizing WR from USC, a young man Hankton recruited at Georgia.
We've gone through and analyzed the newest DBs on LSU's list, with full statistics and deep analysis on each DB, now let's offer up some info on the newest additions:
-All SEC Freshman Selection
-LSU's DBs Coach, Robert Steeples, served as Wingo's Head Coach during his time at De Smet High, Missouri
-11 apps.
-27 TACKLES (14 SOLO)
-2 TFLs
-2 QB HURRIES
-1 SACK
-1 INT (RET. FOR TD)
Wingo is an exciting prospect who could contribute on the field immediately, and since LSU lost some depth at defensive end (Andre Anthony, Landon Jackson), Wingo could be battling against Soni Fonua, Phillip Webb, and Saivion Jones (among others) for LSU's second string DE job behind Ojulari and Gaye.
Despite Steeples' close relationship with Wingo, let it be known that Jamar Cain led the charge here, with Mekhi telling LSUOdyssey that LSU "felt like home" during last week's visit.
Cain wanted Wingo under his guidance, and LSU's first year D-Line Coach is excited about what Wingo could do next to interior talents such as Maason Smith, Jaquelin Roy and (DT or DE) Bryce Langston.
"Very glad to be there 100%!" Wingo told us excitedly.
When you see stat-stuffing freshman seasons such as Wingo enjoyed throughout 2021, you have to feel a rush of excitement: it's rare that you find freshmen defensive ends grabbing INTs, let alone returning them for 40 yard pick-sixes;
I have a feeling.....not only will his "jack-of-all-trades" power translate well on the field, Wingo's brand of in-game versatility will surely either catapult his rise over other Tigers who are yet to pop or force other DL to up their game or get out.....
With Wingo in tow (a player who can post up inside or on the edge) now every LSU Tiger on the DL know they must perform at their highest levels, from Ojulari to Gaye, Smith, Guillory, Langston or Roy, when a merciless faceater such as Mekhi Wingo arrives on campus, you best have your chin-guard strapped in tight and your head on a swivel.....and I'm just talking about being a spectator!
If there is a recent transfer who could be pushing for serious playing time, it's Wingo.
Something spells "BRAD DAVIS EVALUATION SAVIOR" loud and clear when I look at how or why Tre'Mond Shorts is now wearing purple & gold for 2022.
On the face of college / high school football recruiting, Shorts shouldn't be a top target in the transfer portal: possessing barely any offers, enrolled at East Tennessee State for the past 4 years.....why is Shorts now at LSU???
HOW???
This is why you shouldn't put so much stock into surface logistics....star ratings, names of schools, or body measurables: Though Shorts is massive at 326 pounds, and his 6'4 height belies his last name, while starting the past trio of campaigns at Eastern Tennessee State, Shorts has shown powerful moves and footwork ease which told OL Coach Brad Davis "get this young man in purple & gold...."
Who knows, Shorts may not be an instant starter or may never start a game at LSU, however his veteran leadership & consummate locker room congeniality will supply maximum "good vibe" service for Davis' OL room.
Tre'Mond and Miles Frazier were huge pickups and expected veteran OL moves, from my standpoint:
Holding plenty of young, but inexperienced OL talents, Marlon Martinez, Marcus Dumervil, Kardell Thomas, Xavier Hill, Will Campbell, Emery Jones, Bo Bordelon, and Fitzgerald West, Brad Davis' unit needed veteran leadership to help these young stunners along....and I can tell you this for certain:
They're not finished at OL, either.
Oconee High's bristling talent was fantastic throughout his freshman year at Virginia, assembling 31 tackles (including an 8 tackle game), 5 pass breakups, 1 sack vs Virginia Tech, 1 fumble recovery vs Illinois, and 1 TFL during a strong debut, curtailed by a broken leg in the final game of the year.
Discovered by Virginia's now former Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall, Weeks drew a profile likeness to a raw version of Mendenhall's Hall of Fame pupil Brian Urlacher: a do-it-all, do-anything LB capable of stuffing the run, defending the pass, disrupting the backfield or sacking the quarterback....a one stop shop of all encompassing defensive prowess.
LSU's former 2022 commit Jake Johnson, a longtime Oconee High teammate of West and his also superb little brother Whit, told LSUOdyssey to expect this from West:
"Loves football. All around great player, great teammate and loves to hit. West is a baller and has a nose for the ball."
Juker also told us about West playing lacrosse, as well.
Weeks played 6 different positions during his time at Oconee High, playing quarterback before former Tiger Max Johnson's arrival, then playing WR, helping out at safety, running back, and even returning kicks or punts (Weeks caught 2 TDs and rushed for another pair as a senior).
Sure, maybe Weeks doesn't start his first year at LSU.....however, why not?
Weeks' 5 PBUs during 2021's limited freshman reps equals LSU's team-leading total from Dwight McGlothern, the only Tiger to reach 4 PBUs.
Right now, the Tigers claim just 6 scholarship linebackers, Micah Baskerville, Mike Jones Jr, Greg Penn III, Hunter Faust, 2022 freshman DeMario Tolan and now soon-to-be-sophomore West Weeks.....the field is wide open, and Weeks' involvement will make the room far more competitive & energetic.