The LSU Football Transfer Portal Tracker: LSU Tigers Have Departed?

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers wrapped up the 2024 regular season last Saturday after a 37-17 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners.

With the regular season in the rearview mirror, members of the roster have begun revealing their intentions to depart Baton Rouge and enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

The Tigers have seen several members make their announcements, but exits are to be expected, which gives Kelly and the LSU staff an opportunity to reconstruct the roster.

Kelly revealed the strategy heading into the offseason after taking a “backseat” approach during portal season last year.

“I think everybody that’s followed us knows that we weren’t very aggressive in the transfer portal,” he said. “We put together a defensive line using minimal resources. We’ve really put ourself in a position — and I’ll use this term loosely — to stay well under the cap so we could be quite aggressive this year and we will be very aggressive in that area as well as bringing in 16 mid-years.

“We think that the program in terms of the culture and the standards are such that we can do that now where we can bring in 16 freshmen and maybe, if not one of the largest transfer portal classes as well.”

Now, the portal entries are stacking up for the Tigers with double-digit departures.

Who’s set to depart Baton Rouge?

The Departures (10):
Rickie Collins: Quarterback

LSU quarterback Rickie Collins will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons in Baton Rouge, a source confirms to LSU Tigers On SI. 247 Sports’ Chris Hummer first reported the news.

The redshirt-freshman appeared in three games this season where he tallied 35 total yards on five passing attempts. He also logged 18 yards on four carries.

In 2023, Collins appeared in only one game during his true freshman campaign where he completed both of his passing attempts for 19 yards.

Collins utilized 2023 as a redshirt year during his first season with the LSU program.

The Louisiana native was a four-star prospect out of high school after lighting it up at Baton Rouge (La.) Woodlawn High. Collins was a Top 20 quarterback in America.

Landon Ibieta: Wide Receiver

LSU wide receiver Landon Ibieta will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Baton Rouge, he announced.

The Mandevilla (La.) native has battled injuries during his time with the Tigers after playing in only three games in as many years.

A three-star prospect out of high school, Ibieta ranked as a Top 100 wideout in America and Top 25 prospect in Louisiana.

The 5-foot-11 speedster had remained committed to the Miami Hurricanes for much of his prep career, but ultimately flipped to the hometown Tigers prior to Signing Day in the 2022 cycle.

CJ Daniels: Wide Receiver

LSU starting wide receiver CJ Daniels is expected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season in Baton Rouge, On3 Sports reported on Tuesday.

Daniels, who transferred to LSU last offseason after a dominant career with the Liberty Flames, started in 10 of his 11 games played for LSU this season.

 

He totaled 42 receptions for 480 yards and zero touchdowns during his time with the Tigers.

Daniels joined the Tigers last spring after catching 106 passes for 1,954 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons at Liberty.

Da’Shawn Womack: EDGE

LSU defensive lineman Da’Shawn Womack will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons in Baton Rouge, On3 Sports reported on Tuesday.

Womack, a former five-star prospect in the 2023 Recruiting Cycle, chose LSU over Georgia, Maryland and Ole Miss, among others, during his process just two years ago.

Now, the former blue-chipper has revealed he will test the Transfer Portal market where he is set to garner tremendous interest.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder totaled 23 tackles, 2.5 sacks and four pass deflections in his two seasons with the purple and gold.

Jordan Allen: Safety

LSU safety Jordan Allen will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Baton Rouge, On3 Sports reported on Tuesday.

Allen, a former coveted prospect out of Louisiana, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next destination.

The redshirt-sophomore started in LSU’s first two games of the season, but a nagging toe injury sidelined the veteran piece for much of the 2024 season.

The 6-foot, 195-pounder tallied 32 tackles with a pair of pass breakups during his three seasons in the purple and gold.

Shelton Sampson: Wide Receiver

LSU wide receiver Shelton Sampson is set to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons in Baton Rouge, he revealed via social media on Thursday.

Sampson, a former Top 100 prospect in the 2023 Recruiting Class, played in 11 games for the LSU Tigers across two seasons, but did not reel in a reception.

The redshirt-freshman out of Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic High was a pivotal piece to the Tigers’ haul in 2023, but it was an underwhelming stint with Sampson unable to crack the rotation.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder showed flashes during Fall Camp early, but was ultimately unable to earn meaningful playing time in 2024 behind wideouts Kyren Lacy, CJ Daniels, Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas.

Kylin Jackson: Defensive Back

LSU safety Kylin Jackson will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons in Baton Rouge, On3 Sports revealed on Thursday.

Jackson, a Louisiana native and former four-star prospect, will be a hot commodity in the portal market with immense potential.

In two seasons with the program, Jackson played in 17 games with the Tigers – primarily on special teams – while recording five total tackles.

He redshirted in his first season with the Tigers in 2023 while battling the injury bug, but will be a player programs are willing to take a “gamble” on.

Jackson signed with the LSU Tigers over Texas A&M and a myriad of other top programs out of high school.

Xavier Atkins: Linebacker

LSU true freshman linebacker Xavier Atkins will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season in Baton Rouge, 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on Friday afternoon.

Atkins, a four-star linebacker and Louisiana native, will be a key name to watch once officially in the portal with several suitors set to line up for his services.

With LSU linebacker Harold Perkins going down with a torn ACL earlier in the season along with veteran West Weeks battling a lower-body injury, Brian Kelly turned to Atkins to take key snaps down the stretch.

It was true freshmen Atkins and Davhon Keys to take on bigger snaps than expected.

He played in seven games in 2024 where he logged three total tackles in his lone season with the Bayou Bengals.

Jyaire Brown: Cornerback

LSU cornerback Jyaire Brown will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season in Baton Rouge.

Brown, who began his playing career at Ohio State, just wrapped up his lone season with the LSU Tigers in 2024. He had previously spent two seasons with the Buckeyes prior to his time in Baton Rouge.

The 5-foot-11, 177-pounder out of Louisiana played in three games for the Tigers this season where he tallied three tackles.

Bernard Causey: Cornerback

LSU cornerback Bernard Causey will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season with the Tigers.

The New Orleans (La.) native played in zero games during his lone season with the Bayou Bengals. He will have four seasons of eligibility remaining at his next destination.