By Matt Moscona
BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU is set to host the top available transfer this weekend in an effort to bolster what is already regarded by many as the best portal class in the country.
South Florida defensive lineman Bernard Gooden will visit with the Tigers staff in Baton Rouge this weekend, according to a report from 247Sports.
#LSU is set to host the No. 1 available prospect in the NCAA Transfer Portal: Bernard Gooden.
The USF defensive lineman will arrive in Baton Rouge tonight, according to @mzenitz.
Gooden is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign with the Bayou Bengals expressing major interest. pic.twitter.com/0KdMcOxdEH
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) April 24, 2025
Gooden is the top available player in the transfer portal and ranks No. 47 overall in this cycle.
Brian Kelly addressed LSU’s approach in this portal cycle when he met with reporters last week: “We feel good about our roster. If something shows itself that is an incredible opportunity; we’re certainly going to investigate any time that we can help our football team. And so we’re always going to be looking to help our team.”
Gooden was a three-star prospect when he signed with Wake Forest in 2022. After two seasons with the Demon Deacons, he transferred to USF. Transfer rules forced him to sit out the 2023 season, but he became a key defender in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 280 pounder played in 13 games with 11 starts, posting 1.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
LSU has nine scholarship defensive tackles, but none has more than five career starts. The Tigers added Sydir Mitchell from Texas in the December portal cycle.
LSU added 16 players via the portal in the December window. Two players have left LSU during this cycle, but the Tigers have not added anyone yet.
