LSU Football Lands Commitment From Prized SEC Transfer Wide Receiver

Brian Kelly and Co. add portal addition No. 3, secure the services of Kentucky wideout Barion Brown.

Oct 12, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Barion Brown (7) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images / Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Brian Kelly and the LSU staff have landed a commitment from Kentucky transfer wide receiver Barion Brown, he revealed via social media on Saturday afternoon.

Brown announced his intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Lexington with the Tigers swooping in and securing his services rather quickly.

This is a big one for the Bayou Bengals. Brown is a Top-15 overall transfer in the portal with the program now locking in one of the top receivers available in the college version of free agency.

Brown, a speedster who torches opponents with his freakish athleticism, heads to Baton Rouge with 122 career receptions for 1,528 total yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons of college football.

The former Top-100 recruit has track speed that cannot be taught and it's what has made him a lethal weapon in Kentucky's offense over the last three years.

BREAKING: LSU has landed a commitment from Kentucky transfer Barion Brown.

The Top 10 transfer wide receiver joins the Tigers after three seasons with the Wildcats.

The Numbers:
- 122 career receptions
- 1,528 total yards
- 11 TDs

Brian Kelly and Co. get portal addition No. 3. pic.twitter.com/1dUh1bcCcw

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) December 14, 2024

Along with being a threat in the receiving game, Brown can be used as a Swiss Army Knife as well. He rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns during his time in Lexington while also serving as a kick returner with five more touchdowns in that facet of the game.

Brown's five kick return touchdowns is an SEC record where he will become an instant impact player in the special teams facet for the Tigers

Brown ranks as a Top-5 wide receiver in the NCAA Transfer Portal with significant SEC experience and the potential to be a WR1 for the LSU Tigers in 2025.

LSU lost starting wide receivers Kyren Lacy (2025 NFL Draft) and CJ Daniels (NCAA Transfer Portal) with the program utilizing the Transfer Portal to secure an instant impact weapon.

With speed like no other and the ability to give Garrett Nussmeier a vertical threat the second he steps on campus, it's a monumental addition for LSU.

Brown has signed the necessary paperwork with the university and is officially in with the LSU program for the 2025 season.

Kelly and Co. have now signed three players via the NCAA Transfer Portal with the trio making it official with the program.

The Other Signees: Bauer Sharp and Ja'Keem Jackson

TE Bauer Sharp: Oklahoma

Oklahoma tight end transfer Bauer Sharp revealed his pledge to the LSU Tigers on Friday after a visit to Baton Rouge earlier in the week.

Sharp, a sought-after transfer with interest from several Power Four programs, checked in with Kelly and Co. this week before shutting things down.

Kelly and the Tigers were in dire need of bodies in the tight end room after star Mason Taylor declared for the 2025 NFL Draft along with sophomore Ka'Morreun Pimpton entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Now, with a razor thin tight end room, the Bayou Bengals secure Sharp after an impressive season with the Sooners in 2024.

The veteran transfer led Oklahoma in receptions (42) and receiving yards (324) this season while playing an integral role for their offense. He also logged a pair of touchdowns for the Sooners.

There were ties in favor of the Tigers here for Sharp. An Alabama native, he signed with Southeastern Louisiana out of high school before making the move to Oklahoma last season.

Now, Kelly and Co. pushed all the right buttons in his recruitment in order to land his commitment. Sharp has also signed with the Tigers in order to make things official.

"He's a talented player with physicality; especially in the run game. If you watch him closely, some of the things they did with him in the passing game, we've seen from other tight ends," Kelly said of Sharp on Friday after the signing was made official.

"If you really look at his body of work, it's the physicality in the run game. Pulling, blocking tackles, being out on the perimeter. Love his physicality in the run-game. Still, a very good athlete. He came in as a quarterback at Southeast Louisiana. He has the ability to do some really good things for us in the passing game as well.

"I think what really stood out was having that kind of versatility in the running game and the passing game."

CB Ja'Keem Jackson: Florida

Florida transfer cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson revealed a commitment to the LSU Tigers on Saturday morning after a midweek visit to Baton Rouge.

Jackson, an integral piece to the Gators' defensive backfield prior to injury, heads to Death Valley with the chance to make an immediate impact for Corey Raymond's secondary.

He spent two seasons with Billy Napier's Florida program before entering the NCAA Transfer Portal as a redshirt-freshman.

In year one with the program, Jackson appeared in 11 games as a true freshman after bursting on the scene for the Gators.

Fast forward to his second season with the program in 2024 and Jackson missed a majority of the season after suffering an injury early in the year.

The Sunshine State native totaled 11 tackles and four pass breakups over the course of two seasons in Gainesville.

Now, he heads to LSU with the opportunity to make an immediate impact for Raymond's secondary.

Jackson was rated as the No. 3 cornerback in America in the 2023 Recruiting Class out of high school.

It's an important get for Kelly and the Bayou Bengals this offseason. With starting defensive back Zy Alexander departing Baton Rouge after exercising his eligibility, the cornerback room is razor thin heading into next year.

LSU will now bring in Jackson, the former No. 3 corner in America, alongside DJ Pickett, the No. 1 defensive back in the 2025 signing class.

Jackson and Pickett will also be joined by newcomer Aidan Anding, the No. 1 cornerback in Louisiana. Anding signed with the Tigers in early December.

More LSU News:

Paul Finebaum: LSU, Brian Kelly in a "Really Bad Spot" Moving Forward

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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