Brian Losness-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
LSU’s safety play drastically improved from 2023 to 2024.
AJ Haulcy spearheaded that, but Tamarcus Cooley was good, as well. He didn’t play much, but Dashawn Spears picked off Florida’s DJ Lagway twice and made some plays when called up. Position coach Jake Olson deserves a lot of credit for that.
LSU lost Joel Rogers and Jardin Gilbert but is still in a good spot on the back end. But when a big talent shows up, you take it.
WHAT WE KNOW
Ty Benefield has played a lot of football and is, to this point, the most productive transfer add in the class.
He played in all 13 games with four starts as a freshman in 2023, led the team in tackles as a sophomore in 2024 and was a first team All-Mountain West pick with a 107 tackles in 2025.
Over three seasons at Boise State, he’s made 235 tackles and picked off five passes.
He’s got a 6-foot-2 frame and carries 205 lbs. He maintains one year of eligibility.
THE FIT
This is interesting.
Clearly Benefield can play deep safety. He has no problem crashing the line of scrimmage and helping against the run.
Spears played the Dime role this year, and Tamarcus Cooley has played deep safety and down in the box between his time at LSU and NC State. Benefield and Cooley feel like the chess pieces. Spears is headed to the back of the defense.
I think Benefield feels like the STAR solution in Blake Baker’s defense. Harold Perkins and Jardin Gilbert are gone. Charles Ross saw some time there in fall camp. It takes athleticism and toughness. Benefield has both.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I think Benefield starts every game at STAR and makes 70-plus tackles. Perkins had 56 this year with four sacks.
I don’t think Benefield is as dynamic as Perkins, especially off the edge, but I think he’s got a better nose for the ball. He will have to clean up his tackling. PFF tagged him with 26 misses in 2025. Having 26 misses with 107 made is a massive number.
It will be a change of position for him, but I think Baker and Olson added him to a group that includes Cooley, Spears, Jhase Thomas and CJ Jimcoily because they think he’s a difference maker.
Of all the portal adds to this point, I think Benefield is the best. I expect big things from him in the fall.
More LSU Sports
