Former LSU Football Cornerback Re-Enters Transfer Portal, Finds New Home

The Tigers continue seeing ex-players find homes elsewhere, Transfer Portal working its magic.

Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Laterrance Welch (3) against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The NCAA Transfer Portal is officially closed for the LSU Tigers with the program seeing 19 members of the 2024 roster depart Baton Rouge.

Brian Kelly and Co. have made sure to remain active in the free agent market with scholarships available after reeling in 14 newcomers to this point.

It's been a hectic stretch in the Transfer Portal with both current and former members of the LSU program either entering or re-entering the market.

LSU recently saw a former cornerback from the 2023 roster reveal his intentions to enter the portal market during the offseason: Laterrance Welch

Welch joined Arizona State for the 2024 season after announcing his intentions to depart Baton Rouge after two years with the program last December.

A former four-star, Top 150 prospect in the 2022 cycle, Welch became a player with significant upside as he navigated the next chapter of his playing career.

Welch played in 96 snaps on defense during the 2023 season for LSU, according to PFF, while also taking reps with the special teams unit.

Now, after a pair of seasons with LSU and a year at Arizona State, Welch has decided to head elsewhere for the 2025 season.

He has signed the necessary paperwork with the UNLV Rebels, according to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports. It'll be his third school of his playing career.

Arizona State cornerback Laterrance Welch has signed with UNLV, @On3sports has learned.

Former four-star started at LSU. He has 33 career tackles and 2 interceptions. https://t.co/wMrfFrcNOy pic.twitter.com/eu2kwjGDoV

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) January 7, 2025

For LSU, Kelly and the Bayou Bengals have been one of the most active programs in the NCAA Transfer Portal with significant changes to the roster.

The Offseason Moves:

The Transfer Departures (19):
- Rickie Collins: Quarterback (Syracuse)
- Landon Ibieta: Wide Receiver
- CJ Daniels: Wide Receiver (Miami)
- Dashawn Womack: EDGE (Ole Miss)
- Jordan Allen: Safety (Houston)
- Shelton Sampson: Wide Receiver (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- Kylin Jackson: Defensive Back (TCU)
- Xavier Atkins: Linebacker (Auburn)
- Jyaire Brown: Cornerback (UCF)
- Bernard Causey: Cornerback
- Nathan Dibert: Kicker (Eastern Michigan)
- De'Myrion Johnson: Defensive Tackle
- JK Johnson: Cornerback (Oklahoma State)
- Ka'Morreun Pimpton: Tight End (TCU)
- Jay'viar Suggs: Defensive Tackle (Wisconsin)
- Sage Ryan: Defensive Back (Ole Miss)
- AJ Swann: Quarterback (App State)
- Kimo Makane'ole: Defensive Lineman
- Jalen Lee: Defensive Lineman

When it comes to recruiting efforts in the NCAA Transfer Portal, LSU quickly proved they would be one of the most active programs in the free agent market during the window.

The Tigers currently hold the No. 1 class in the portal with 14 additions locked in to this point, but the expectation remains that the program isn't done just yet.

"We'll be very aggressive," Kelly said prior to the portal window opening. "I think everybody knows last summer that we weren't very aggressive in the transfer portal and we put together a defensive line with minimal resources. We've really put ourselves in a position, and I'll use this term loosely, well under the 'cap' to where we could be quite aggressive this year. And we will be in that area."

Who have the Tigers gained commitments from?

The Additions on Offense (7):
- TE Bauer Sharp: Oklahoma
- WR Barion Brown: Kentucky
- QB Michael Van Buren: Mississippi State
- WR Destyn Hill: Florida State
- WR Nic Anderson: Oklahoma
- OL Braelin Moore: Virginia Tech
- OL Josh Thompson: Northwestern

The Additions on Defense (6):
- CB Ja'Keem Jackson: Florida
- EDGE Jimari Butler: Nebraska
- EDGE Jack Pyburn: Florida
- CB Mansoor Delane: Virginia Tech
- DL Sydir Mitchell: Texas
- EDGE Patrick Payton: Florida State

The Special Teams Additions (1):
Punter Grant Chadwick: Middle Tennessee

More LSU News:

LSU Adds Commitments From Seven Top-100 Transfers in the Portal

LSU Dishes Out Offer to No. 1 Quarterback in America

Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a "Sleeper" Ahead of 2024 Season

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