How LSU transfers performed at their new schools in Week 1

In this era, losing players to the transfer portal is unavoidable. LSU is no exception. Over the last few years, several Tigers have hit the transfer portal.

LSU lost a flood of players amidst the head coaching transition in 2021, and while it’s calmed down in recent years, you can expect 10-plus transfers every portal season.

LSU had some luck of its own dipping into the portal. QB [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] found another gear at LSU on his way to winning a Heisman, defensive lineman [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] was one of the best DTs in the SEC from 2022-23, and Kyren Lacy looks like LSU’s next star at wide receiver.

Here, we’ll focus on the guys that left LSU. With all the exits, it can be difficult to keep up with players at their new homes. Some of these names are losses that hurt LSU while others the split made sense for both parties.

Here’s how every former LSU player fared in college football’s opening weekend.

Max Johnson left LSU following the 2021 season and ended up at Texas A&M. After a couple of seasons with the Aggies, Johnson hit the portal again and committed to UNC.

He won the starting job, but his season came to an abrupt end in week one. Johnson broke his leg and required a couple of surgeries.

According to Ross Martin, Johnson has two years of eligibility remaining.

QB TJ Finley – Western Kentucky

TJ Finley transferred to Western Kentucky this offseason, making it his fourth collegiate stop. He was in the same recruiting class as Johnson at LSU but transferred to Auburn in 2021. Following his time on the plains, Finley had a career year with Texas State in 2023.

Texas State opted to go in a different direction at QB, leaving Finley to hit the portal again. Finley and WKU had a tall task in week one, opening the year at Alabama.

Finley dropped back 35 times and completed 18 passes for just 92 yards. Those performances tend to happen when G5 teams face Alabama.

WR Jack Bech – TCU

One of the strongest performances on this list belongs to TCU receiver Jack Bech.

Bech caught six passes for 139 yards and a score in TCU’s Friday night win over Stanford. His 139 yards nearly match his season output of 146 in 2023. If week one is any indication, Bech could be in for a breakout year this fall.

Jackson left LSU after 2021 and jumped the border for Arkansas. He’s been an impact defender since making his Razorback debut in 2022.

He only played 20 snaps and didn’t record a pressure in Arkansas’ blowout win, but expect a big year from Jackson as he looks to impress NFL scouts.

WR Jalen Brown – FSU

Brown has two games at Florida State under his belt thanks to FSU’s week 0 opener against Georgia Tech. It’s been a rough start for the Noles, who are 0-2 after losing to Boston College on Monday night.

Brown started both games but hasn’t put up big numbers as FSU’s passing offense struggles to find a rhythm.

He caught two passes for 11 yards against Georgia Tech and one pass for 15 yards against Boston College.

WR Khai Prean – Tulane

Prean left LSU after one year but remained in the state of Louisiana at Tulane. He was targeted just once in the opening win vs. Southeastern Louisiana.

Prean will have a chance to factor into the Green Wave’s offense as the season progresses.

DB Ryan Yaites – Cal

Yaites was a four-star prospect in the 2023 class and likely wasn’t that far off from seeing the field at LSU, but the blue-chip prospect elected to hit the portal and transfer across the country to Cal.

Yaites didn’t get the start against UC Davis but played 20 snaps. He recorded a stop and allowed just one catch.

Denver Harris arrived at LSU with high expectations in 2023, but his lone season in Death Valley didn’t go to plan. Harris hit the portal again and transferred to UTSA.

A former five-star, Harris was one of UTSA’s most talented players the moment he arrived. He got the start in the Roadrunner’s opener against Kennesaw State and posted a solid performance, allowing just one catch in 32 snaps.

If Harris figures it out, he’ll be one of the best defenders in the AAC.

Howard was a four-star recruit in 2023 who spent just one year at LSU. After entering the portal, he ended up at Minnesota for his sophomore campaign.

Howard saw eight snaps in Minnesota’s opener against UNC. He didn’t record a pressure, but he made one tackle in limited action.

LSU could have used Langston with the depth situation on the defensive line, but he hit the portal and committed to FAU.

Langston didn’t start in Week 1, but he rotated in for 16 snaps. The lone stat recorded was an assisted tackle, but it’s hard to judge a DT’s performance off the stat sheet alone. Langston appears to be in FAU’s plans this year.

DL Fitzgerald West – Louisiana

West is another DT who would have been of use to LSU this year, but he’s found a role at ULL. West played 22 snaps and recorded a stop for the Rajun Cajuns in Week 1.

Heard was arguably LSU’s biggest portal loss of 2023. He was one of the top offensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class and impressed when he got the chance as a true freshman.

But LSU already had two future first-round tackles, leaving Heard as the odd man out. Heard got the start for Tennessee at left tackle and pitched a perfect game, not allowing a single pressure. Heard has the chance to be one of the SEC’s top tackles.

G Marlon Martinez – Mississippi State

Marlon Martinez was a solid depth piece on LSU’s offensive line for a couple of seasons, but he hit the portal looking for a full-time role.

Mississippi State was able to provide that as the Bulldogs rebuilt their offensive line under new head coach Jeff Lebby. Martinez started at right guard in week one and played 28 snaps. According to PFF, he posted an 82.8

RB Armoni Goodwin – UAB

After showing flashes at LSU the last three years, Goodwin transferred to UAB and while he didn’t see a ton of action in Week 1, he made the most of it when he was out there.

Goodwin carried it six times for 48 yards, giving him eight yards per carry.

TE Kole Taylor – WVU

Taylor was a rotational piece at tight end for LSU 2020-22. His second year is underway at WVU following a solid 2023 campaign.

Taylor was targeted four times in the opener vs. Penn State, catching two passes for 25 yards. Overall, it was a down day for the WVU offense so don’t read too much into Taylor’s output. He’s expected to have a good year in Morgantown.

Kiner surpassed the 1,000-yard mark with the Bearcats last year. He’s now running behind an improved offensive line and hoping for another big year in 2024.

He kicked off his year running it eight times for 48 yards vs Towson.

Josh White remains at Baylor after playing 111 snaps last year. He’s not on the same pace this fall though, playing just four snaps in the Bears opener. We’ll see how White factors into Dave Aranda’s plans as the season progresses.

DL Joe Evans – UTSA

Evans is the second UTSA player on this list who began his career at LSU, joining cornerback Denver Harris.

He’s in his sixth year of college football now. Three at LSU and three at UTSA. Evans was one of the best defensive linemen in his conference last year and the Roadrunners hope he can repeat that performance in 2024.

He played 23 snaps in the opener and posted a 63.9 PFF run defense grade and a 64.1 pass rush grade.

DE Desmond Little – UAB

Little never saw the field much at LSU, but he’s earned a heavy role with UAB.

Little racked up 30 pressures and eight sacks last year. He was one of the sport’s most productive pass rushers of week one, notching seven pressures and eight sacks. If he keeps that pace up, Little will surpass his strong numbers in 2023.

RB Derrick Davis – Pitt

Davis began his LSU career as a safety before moving to running back. He remained in the backfield after transferring to Pitt but got just two carries in 2023.

He’s already crossed that mark in 2024, carrying it five times for 12 yards and a score in Pitt’s season-opening win over Kent State.

CB Raydarious Jones – Mississippi State

Raydarious Jones began his career at LSU in 2019, but never saw much action. He transferred to Mississippi State in 2022, where he was slow to see the field there too.

Finally, in 2024, Jones might be getting his chance. He played 20 snaps in the Bulldogs opening win. He made two tackles and allowed just one catch.

LB Kolbe Fields – Louisiana Tech

Fields remained in the state of Louisiana, where he’s now starting at middle linebacker for Louisiana Tech.

Fields had a strong week one, racking up three sacks and eight stops. If Fields keeps those numbers up, he’ll contend for an all-conference selection later this year.

G Xavier Hill – Memphis

Hill, a veteran, figures to be a key part of Memphis’ strong offensive line. He was one of the top guards in the AAC last year and looks to be on his way there again.

According to PFF, Hill posted an 86.6 pass block grade in week one.

OT Marcus Dumervil – Maryland

In his second year at Maryland, Dumervil didn’t start but saw 22 snaps of action in the season opener.

He posted an 83.5 PFF pass-blocking grade in the Terps win over UConn.

Howard’s profile is bigger than most on this list. He was one of the most highly-touted QB recruits in LSU history, but with Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier ahead on the depth chart, Howard hit the portal after one season at LSU.

His destination was Ole Miss, where he was awaiting his chance behind Jaxson Dart. Howard got a few snaps in relief of Dart in Ole Miss’ blowout win over Furman.

CB Jaelyn Davis-Robinson – SMU

There aren’t a ton of players on this list that LSU really didn’t want to see go, but the Tigers secondary could have used Davis-Robinson in 2023.

He was a contributor on a good SMU defense and is back in the fold through two games in 2024. Davis-Robinson 44.5 PFF coverage grade so far, but he’s talented and that number figures to improve.

DB Duce Chestnut – Syracuse

Chestnut began his career at Syracuse, transferred to LSU in 2023, and transferred back to Syracuse after one year.

He played 53 snaps at strong safety in the opening win over Ohio. He made five tackles and allowed two catches. It gets tougher for the Orange in Week 2 with Georgia Tech coming to town.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: How LSU transfers performed at their new schools in Week 1