LSU Football Defensive Tackle, Key Offseason Addition in 2024 Reveals New Home

Brian Kelly and Co. see defensive lineman Jay'viar Sugga reveal transfer destination, heading back up North.

Sep 21, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive tackle Jay'viar Suggs (31) evades UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Spencer Holstege (74) to sack quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers saw defensive lineman Jay'viar Suggs reveal his intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal in December after one season with the program.

The coveted transfer made his way to LSU last offseason after a handful of seasons at the Division II level with Grand Valley State.

Suggs took a redshirt year in his first season with the program prior to the 2020 season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 6-foot-3, 282-pounder tallied 21 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble in 2022 with GVSU.

The following season in 2023, Suggs remained consistent after logging 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks with 4 pass breakups and a forced fumble.

He had been a consistent contributor at the Division II level, but was clearly ready to take it up a notch at a Power Four school.

He committed to the Tigers last spring before limited playing time in his lone season with the program in 2024. Suggs tallied 10 total tackles, three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

Now, he's revealed where he will be playing his final season of eligibility: Wisconsin.

BREAKING: LSU transfer DL Jay’viar Suggs has Committed to Wisconsin, he tells @on3sports

The 6’3 295 DL has totaled 52 Tackles, 14.5 TFL, 10.5 Sacks, & 2 PD in his college career thus far

1 year of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/PVNw1U2HWB

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 3, 2025

Suggs will be heading back up North and joining the Wisconsin Badgers for the 2025 season after mutliple seasons with Grand Valley State and one season with the LSU Tigers.

Kelly and Co. have seen 18 departures this offseason via the NCAA Transfer Portal with the program retooling the roster significantly over the last month.

The Offseason Moves:

The 2024 Departures (18):

- 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
- Sage Ryan: Defensive Back (Ole Miss)
- AJ Swann: Quarterback (App State)
- Kimo Makane'ole: 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 three-week 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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