Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
Defensive line talent is in the LSU pipeline.
It’s just not realistic to count on that from Day 1. Lane Kiffin came to LSU to coach players like Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson. Guys like Deuce Geralds and Trenton Henderson come, too.
But LSU needed to restock inventory up front when Jacobian Guillory, Bernard Gooden, Ahmad Breaux and Buddy Mathis moved on. And the Tigers have.
The coaching staff has done a really good job on the defensive line. That started with Stephiylan Green from Clemson.
WHAT WE KNOW
Green started and contributed at Clemson.
He played in 24 games and started 11 over three years. In the 2025 opener against LSU, he made six tackles. Green stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 290 lbs., and he can move. On3 rated him a top 50 player coming out of high school. Rivals called him top 100.
Also, we know his name is pronounced STEPH-eye-linn.
Green will be a fourth-year player with power conference experience and production very similar in many ways to Jimari Butler, Patrick Payton, Jack Pyburn and Gooden last cycle.
He played 29 snaps per game this year at Clemson, and Pro Football Focus graded him well. He was a 71.5 overall, just 0.7 behind Peter Woods who is a likely first round pick. PFF graded Green a 76.9 against the run which is excellent. He only pressured the passer seven times in 177 pass rush snaps.
He spent the vast majority of the season between the A and B gaps largely working the B gap for the Clemson defense.
THE FIT
LSU needed help at defensive tackle. Dominick McKinley is a solid player. Anderson and Geralds have worlds of potential. You just don’t want to count on freshmen on the defensive line.
Green was the first domino to fall in what has been a really solid defensive line haul in the portal. He can come in next to McKinley and provide mature, proven play at the point of attack.
Play of the Day No. 206: I’m pretty sure the center’s feet don’t get trapped or clipped here, defensive tackle Stephiylan Green just folds him back into the quarterback’s escape lane for the sack (Clemson vs. Syracuse, 2025). #POTD pic.twitter.com/jn3Ao5EqeZ
— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) September 24, 2025
Both McKinley and Green are tall and relatively lean on the interior. Both are active but have not been overly productive on the stat sheet in their time. Malik Blocton has been added to the fold, and he’s the more stout, low-to-the-ground presence at tackle.
Now LSU has veterans at the positions to allow the young players to develop at a reasonable pace.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I expect Green’s 2026 at LSU to be similar to his 2025 at Clemson. I can see him as a starter or a heavily used reserve piece. He’ll hold the point of attack and make some plays. He’s not likely to be a game-changing player.
Green will help stop the run, which is job No. 1 for a tackle. He probably won’t add much in the way of pass rushing. Interior pass rush is difficult to find.
I think what LSU has done with many of the portal additions is raise the floor. That’s where I slot Green in. He’s proven he can handle the job. Is he likely to blossom into an All-American and second round pick? Probably not. But it’s possible. The sentiment in Clemson was that they were very disappointed to see him go.
He’s low risk and highly motivated in a draft year. Green is a really solid add for Kiffin and the Tigers.
More LSU Sports
