Portal Profile: North Carolina Central OL Ja’Quan Sprinkle

By Hunt Palmer

We may never know exactly why the LSU offense failed to run the ball in 2024 and 2025.

Was it the system? Was it poor execution? Bad offensive line evaluation? Development? It was probably a combination of them all. In any event, LSU is starting over.

That has to begin with the portal.

Braelin Moore and Weston Davis return. Moore is penciled in at center. Davis will battle for a tackle job. He’ll have plenty of competition. Guard is wide open.

WHAT WE KNOW

Ja’Quon Sprinkle was the first offensive line addition by Lane Kiffin’s staff.

He’s entering a new world making the jump from North Carolina Central in the MEAC to the SEC. Sprinkle is 6-foot-4 and 290 lbs. He made 27 starts at NC Central, splitting time between tackle and guard. He was an all-conference selection in 2025.

Upon entry to the portal, Sprinkle quickly received offers from Marshall, Akron, South Alabama and Western Kentucky. LSU was the first power conference offer he got, he and jumped on it.

Coen Echols and Josh Thompson logged the vast majority of LSU’s guard snaps in 2025. Paul Mubenga and DJ Chester filled in at times. All of those players are gone.

THE FIT

You can certainly find impact players at the FCS level. Just look down the road at the New Orleans Saints who found gems in Terron Armstead, Jahri Evans and Jermon Bushrod at lower levels, and they were phenomenal pros.

There is, however, a reason those guys are so notable. It doesn’t happen too often.

Sprinkle is a little shorter than a traditional tackle and a little lighter than a traditional guard. He does have a lot of college football experience. LSU needed bodies when they took Sprinkle. He brings positional versatility, which is always a positive, especially in a reserve player.

HUNT’S PROJECTION

I think Moore, Davis and transfers Sean Thompkins and Devin Harper are likely starters at this point. LSU is still swinging for the fences with Jordan Seaton and a couple of other power conference players.

I think Sprinkle will add some depth at guard for LSU. He’s got two seasons of eligibility. If he blossoms into more than that, what a find it will have been by the LSU staff.