LSU Country

LSU Football Lands Commitment From No. 1 EDGE Transfer in the Portal

Brian Kelly and Co. set to add coveted defensive end Patrick Payton, add to embarrassment of riches in portal haul.

Zack Nagy

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Patrick Payton (11) reacts against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Patrick Payton (11) reacts against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers remain red hot on the recruiting trail with the program landing a commitment from Florida State transfer Patrick Payton, Matt Zenitz of 247Sports revealed on Saturday.

Payton, the No. 1 defensive player in the NCAA Transfer Portal, is currently on a visit to Baton Rouge with LSU sealing the deal on his trip to town.

It's a massive get for Kelly and Co. with the program adding to an embarrassment of riches via the Transfer Portal haul.

Payton, the 2022 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, quickly became a hot commodity in the portal with a slew of potential suitors.

Once his name was officially in the system, 247Sports rated Payton as the No. 2 overall transfer and the No. 1 edge rusher in the market. He is the No. 1 defensive player in the portal.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder logged 109 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 12 pass breakups and three forced fumbles in three seasons with Florida State.

LSU has already signed a pair of edge rushers in the NCAA Transfer Portal after Florida's Jack Pyburn and Nebraska's Jimari Butler pledged to the program with Payton now adding to the special 2025 Transfer Portal Class Kelly and Co. are piecing together.

Payton was the most coveted prospect on the market. Prior to his LSU commitment on Saturday, he was the No. 1 uncommitted transfer where he will now become an immediate impact star in Baton Rouge. LSU now reels in the dynamic pass rusher with immense potential.

Now, LSU brings in in the program's third defensive end via the NCAA Transfer Portal with Payton joining Florida's Jack Pyburn and Nebraska's Jimari Butler.

The EDGE Signees: Butler and Pyburn

Jimari Butler... The Nebraska standout immediately will compete for a starting job in Baton Rouge as an edge rusher. He appeared in 37 games for the Cornhuskers, starting 16 times, including 10 in 2024. He comes to LSU with 65 career tackles to go along with 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

In 2024, Butler tallied 22 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. During his All-Big Ten season in 2023, he had 34 tackles and led the team in both tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (5.5). 

"He's got versatility. He's played in the four technique, he's played as a five technique, he's played as a drop. His physicality, look he wore the No. 1 which that jersey is given out to the best practice player in coach Rhule's program. He is No. 10 but he was given No. 1 because of the way he practiced. We're bringing in high character guys, guy that practice and set a standard in the way they play and he's going to up that level in that room," Kelly said on Monday.

Jack Pyburn... The Florida transfer is fresh off of a 2024 season where he logged 60 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and one interception while starting the last eight games of the year. In three seasons with the Gators, Pyburn logged 80 total tackles with his "coming out season" being in 2024.

The No. 4 rated edge rusher in the portal projects as a Day 1 starter upon his arrival in Baton Rouge as he continues leveling up his game throughout his career.

More LSU News:

The LSU Transfer Portal Update: Who's in? Who's out?

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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Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of LSU Country, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Tiger Football, Basketball, Baseball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving LSU athletics. 

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