LSU SPRING 2024 TRANSFER WATCH

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

@LonnPhillips

With LSU now at 87 scholarship spots following the departure of red shirt freshman edge rusher Jaxon Howard, now needing to shed 2 more to arrive at the 85 man roster limit, Head Coach Brian Kelly and his staff will be looking to cut at least a few scholarship players, even though there is the possibility of NIL collective money being used to "buy scholarships", I don't think Coach Kelly will want to go that route right now.

I think we're looking at that strategy saved for making space in case of emergencies or the right player is available.

But right now, these are Tigers I'm either wondering about, have information that they're looking to leave, or due to roster overloads in their position are no longer feeling like they're priorities, with a transfer rating from 1-10, with 1 meaning no transfer departure concerns and 10 meaning they're all but out the door:

RYAN YAITES

(TRANSFER RATING: 4)

Yaites is a versatile defensive back, naturally positioned at safety, who may be too multifaceted for his own good, finding it tough to lock down a single position, being floated around from safety to nickel, tested at corner and even deployed as a backup Star this spring.

While he is definitely one of the highest IQ defenders on the team, he plays with too much hesitancy and needs to be given an opportunity to develop further at a consistent spot....although right now, Yaites is 3rd or 4th at every defensive back position except the new star position, carved out for both Burns & Yaites.

This is a player you don't want to see move, and he's rated at 5 just because I know he loves Baton Rouge, his teammates and playing for this school, however, Yaites is well sought after by a lot of top programs and will have a big choice to make in the coming weeks.

SHELTON SAMPSON JR

(TRANSFER RATING: 7)

Finding himself buried on the depth chart once again in his second season, Shelton Sampson Jr's time at LSU hasn't gone to plan thus far....with whispers of the Baton Rouge native receiving overtures from Ohio State, Miami, Alabama and others.

Sampson is definitely going through a tough moment at LSU, but it would be a shocker to see him quit on his hometown squad so quickly, and when playing for a certified NFL Draft kingmaker in Cortez Hankton.

I rank him a 7....it looks like all the checkmarks are filling up the boxes for his departure, and yet, I feel it's going to take a lot more roster dejection than this to force the Louisiana kid away from his hometown school.

It's not like Sampson is being frozen out, he's still logging reps as a firm second string starter, right alongside transfer vets like CJ Daniels & Zavion Thomas.

CHRISTIAN BRAITHWAITE

(TRANSFER RATING: 9)

After 2 seasons where you'd be forgiven if you forgot highly-recruited Texas native LB Christian Braithwaite was still on the Tigers squad, such is his lack of playing time, appearing in just 1 game for 7 total snaps last season.

Appearing for moments of the Spring Game, Braithwaite seems to be buried on the linebacker roster, with 2022 classmate Whit Weeks starting, veterans Greg Penn and Harold Perkins established as starters, while young studs such as Davhon Keys, Tylen Singleton, and Deebo Atkins are coming through the ranks.

Sadly never getting an extended shot, Braithwaite is almost destined to go elsewhere unless a major roster shakeup occurs.

MATTHEW LANGLOIS

(TRANSFER RATING: 9)

Ever since his knee injury during his freshman season, Matthew Langlois hasn't been the same athletic machine he was when LSU signed him out of high school.

Only logging 3 defensive snaps in 3 full seasons on the cusp of his 4th year (allowing a 34 yard catch from 1 target), featuring in 149 total special teams snaps without a tackle, and just 3 special teams snaps in all of last season, outside of sentimentality, it would be hard for me to explain why I'd keep him on the roster.

Truly a sad story what's happened to Langlois.

LANDON IBIETA

(TRANSFER RATING: 9)

A supremely talented HB / TE / WR, Landon Ibieta was both undersized and under-utilized by LSU's offense, never finding a spark or a place among an offense geared towards the legs of Jayden Daniels & the receiving duo of Malik Nabers & Brian Thomas Jr.

I'm surprised he lasted this long buried on the depth chart, the competitor that he is....an in-state transfer to gain immediate playing time is likely, as this young man still has a lot to offer.

JEREMIAH HUGHES

(TRANSFER RATING: 8)

A top notch talent with an even better family who finds himself stuck in a bewildering roster situation to dig himself out of....and after a season only playing special teams snaps & the rare defensive play, Jeremiah Hughes might be tired of finding his options limited, while LSU may want to free up a scholarship for a cornerback target within the portal.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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