By Hunt Palmer
LSU blitzed the transfer portal in December and totally reshaped the 2025 roster. It’s all part of a program shift toward NIL and portal additions.
In this series, we’re going to look at all of the transfers Brian Kelly and his staff brought in to assess where they fit and what our projections are for them in 2025 and beyond.
Next up is Tamarcus Cooley, the defensive back transfer from North Carolina State.
WHAT WE KNOW: Cooley is the latest addition to LSU’s defensive backfield overhaul. We’ve profiled Ja’Keem Jackson and Mansoor Delane. D.J. Pickett and Aidan Anding are also on the way at cornerback. Jhase Thomas and Jacob Bradford are the high school safeties in the class.
Cooley was a consensus three-star recruit when he signed with Maryland. He redshirted in 2023, playing in just two games. He then made the move over to NC State where he made a big impact.
The 5-foot-10, 205 lbs., Cooley manned the nickel spot for the Wolfpack in 2024. He made 39 tackles, forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted three passes as a redshirt freshman.
NC State transfer Tamarcus Cooley will be on Kentucky’s campus this weekend after visiting Ole Miss and LSU. The former 3-star recruit was an impressive cover nickel as a redshirt freshman.
BIO BLAST: https://t.co/nr7JE8GHXx
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) January 11, 2025
Pro Football Focus graded Cooley at 79.6 for the season. Only Bradyn Swinson and Zy Alexander graded higher on LSU’s 2024 defense.
His run defense grade was 81.3. Tackling was 75.4, and coverage was an 80.0. All of those numbers are rock solid and display his versatility.
THE FIT: Cooley played a lot of nickel last year and probably could for LSU. The tape suggests he can handle that workload in the SEC. However, LSU has a glaring need at safety. Brian Kelly has said it. Fans have said it. Talking heads have said it. The safety play at LSU just wasn’t good enough in 2024. LSU struggled to cover. Big plays in the running game were an issue.
Cooley’s skill set suggests he could be a real upgrade.
He’s not the biggest presence on the field, but he’s solidly built and isn’t afraid to be physical. Sometimes you get Jarrick Bernard-Converse, and sometimes you get Duce Chestnut. Greg Brooks and Joe Foucha worked out from the SEC. Denver Harris did not.
You rarely know exactly what you’re getting, but Cooley has multiple years of eligibility left and productive season to his name.
HUNT’S PROJECTION: I think Cooley is a starting safety for LSU from the opener. Jardin Gilbert, DaShawn Spears and Joel Rogers are the returning safeties. Cooley projects ahead of all of them.
The starting secondary looks something like Ja’Keem Jackson and Ashton Stamps at the corners, Delane at nickel and Cooley back at safety with Gilbert. Spears and Pickett will be heard from in short order, as well. I’m leaning on the older guys because we’ve seen this coaching staff do that. Pickett replacing Jackson wouldn’t be a stunner.
No matter how it shakes out, that looks more talented than the group LSU sent to the field in 2025. I expect a similar upgrade in play. Cooley was a guy many SEC team including Ole Miss wanted. LSU made the move to go get him.
