LSU portal class could offer some program stability

By Hunt Palmer

A year ago, Brian Kelly and his staff set out to assemble the best transfer class in the country.

They did so according to On3.

Lane Kiffin took on a similar assignment this winter, and he did, as well. However, there’s one key difference in the two classes — remaining eligibility.

I’m not dense enough to suggest every player who transferred to LSU over the last three weeks is making his final college stop. A number of them will move on this time next year. That defines this era of college football.

What I do know is that most of them don’t have to leave.

LSU signed 18 transfers last year. Eight of them were in their final season of college eligibility. Jack Pyburn, Patrick Payton, Jimari Butler, Barion Brown, AJ Haulcy, Josh Thompson, Bauer Sharp and Bernard Gooden accounted for 44% of LSU’s class. They’re gone.

To this point, LSU has signed 41 transfers. Only five of them (12%) are out of eligibility after the 2026 season.

Those five are expected to be immediate starters. Princewill Umanmielen led Ole Miss in sacks last season. TJ Dottery led the SEC in tackles as a Rebel. Aliou Bah is a multi-year Big 10 starter on the offensive line. Jayce Brown was the fastest player in Kansas State history to reach 1,000 yards receiving, and Ty Benefield has made 233 tackles in three seasons at Boise, twice leading the team

The other 36 players will have the option to returns.

LSU 2026 PORTAL CLASS

One Year Remaining: 5

Two Years Remaining: 16

Three Years Remaining: 13

Four Years Remaining: 7

The process seemed intentional. Kiffin and his staff are comfortable doing heavy lifting in the portal annually, but a little stability from younger players with additional year were the preferred targets. A whopping 29 of the 41 players have two or three years left. In most cases, those are players with significant playing experience but have options to return.

That’s the sweet spot.

As I mentioned above, any of the players with remaining eligibility could bolt after next season. Some will. But the hope for LSU is that a little bit of stability can be created with this haul, at least for 2027.