McNeese Athletics
By Hunt Palmer
LSU has had plenty of success with St. Aug Purple Knights.
Leonard Fournette and Tyrann Mathieu are two of the best players in Tiger history. Trai Turner had a great run in Baton Rouge that continued in the NFL. Josh Jackson’s route wasn’t as direct as those three standouts, but he’s next in line.
LSU was left with just one wide out after the transfer dust settled. Philip Wright remained, and the rest of the group skipped town.
Lane Kiffin, George McDonald and Billy Glasscock went to work to reassemble the position group, and they didn’t leave any stones unturned. From the SEC to the FCS down to the high school ranks, LSU brought in a dozen wide outs.
Now the competition begins.
WHAT WE KNOW
Jackson was a three-star recruit coming out of St. Aug. Kiffin’s Ole Miss staff liked him enough to give him an offer. Mississippi State did, too. He committed to Tulane but flipped over to UAB where he spent his first season.
He played in two games as a Blazer and transferred back to McNeese for the 2025 season. He made 20 catches for 258 yards as a redshirt freshman in Lake Charles.
Jackson is 6-foot-2 and north of 210 lbs. So, he’s a bigger bodied target with three years of eligibility remaining.
THE FIT
I can’t speak to this with any certainty, but it felt like LSU was looking for bodies at wide receiver. When you’re down to one career catch for two yards in your entire room, it’s time to start reeling some guys in.
Jayce Brown and Tre Wilson have significant credentials. But they’re one-year additions. Guys like Jackson Harris, Tyree Holloway and Josh Jackson come from lower levels and at the very least add depth.
Kiffin’s staff liked Jackson well enough to offer him at Ole Miss, and I doubt they broke the bank for him this time around.
Bringing in a 6-foot-2 frame with three years remaining makes a lot of sense.
Josh Jackson | WR (McNeese)
6’2” | 205 lbs
3 years of eligibility• New Orleans native (St. Augustine) ⚜️
• 20 catches for 258 yards at McNeese in ’25 pic.twitter.com/CDTLQtq6fa— ALL THINGS GEAUX (@AllGeaux) January 12, 2026
Jackson averaged better than 20 yards per catch at McNeese and showed some big play ability at the lower level.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I’d be surprised if Jackson plays a key role on the 2026 team. I think that’s fair to say. He’s still a relatively young player, and he didn’t play a huge role for UAB or McNeese.
Not every addition makes the All-America team.
Reasonably speaking, Jackson fits the profile of a Louisiana player who probably doesn’t command a sizeable revenue sharing chunk. He’s got time to develop and the size to do so. Ties to the state could play a factor in his sticking around for a few years. Of course, when you transfer twice in two years, perhaps not.
LSU is bringing in more than 40 transfer players. Some are depth pieces.
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