LSU Football Expected to Host Coveted SEC Defensive Back Transfer for a Visit

Brian Kelly and Co. looking to bring in one of the top defensive backs via the portal, set to check out LSU.

Sep 14, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers cornerback Keionte Scott (0) against the New Mexico Lobos at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images / John Reed-Imagn Images

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers remain one of the most active programs in the NCAA Transfer Portal with 14 commitments to this point.

Kelly and Co. currently hold the No. 1 portal class in America with multiple immediate impact pieces heading to Baton Rouge.

But there remains one position group that will need reinforcements heading into the 2025 season: Safety.

LSU has seen Major Burns (2025 NFL Draft) and Sage Ryan (Transfer Portal) depart Baton Rouge already with the safety room now consisting of mainly Javien Toviano, Jardin Gilbert and Dashawn Spears.

Toviano made the move to safety last month after working at cornerback and in the STAR role during his first two seasons in Baton Rouge.

LSU has signed Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane, the No. 2 cornerback in the portal, but his versatilty is a key piece in his addition. He can and has played safety before where he was certainly effective.

Defensive coordinator Blake Baker will have his fun here with Delane. He's a versatile piece that can play as a boundary cornerback, safety, etc.

Despite this, it's clear as day the Tigers will attack the portal in search of help at the safety position. There is a need for competition in this room along with overall talent. It makes the portal that much more important.

Now, LSU is set to host a transfer defensive back with SEC experience: Keionte Scott.

#LSU is expected to get a visit from Auburn transfer Keionte Scott, according to @mzenitz.

The impressive 6’0, 192-pound defensive back totaled 113 tackles, 8 pass deflections and 1 interception across three seasons.

Scott was a starter for Auburn over the last three years. pic.twitter.com/BDxpuTvpLd

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) January 2, 2025

The Auburn transfer entered the portal after three seasons with the Tigers where he totaled 113 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception.

Scott is listed as a cornerback, but is a versatile piece in the secondary where he can also play the nickel.

LSU could use the Swiss Army Knife in multiple ways, but it will be a battle for his services. Scott is currently en route to USC for a visit with the Trojans.

For the Tigers, they've added six immediate impact defensive transfers to this point.

The Additions on Defense:

CB Ja'Keem Jackson: Florida

Ja’Keem Jackson, a season-opening starter at cornerback for Florida this year, has signed with LSU. He comes to LSU after two years at Florida where he appeared in 13 games recording 11 tackles, four pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

He started the first two games of the 2024 season at cornerback for Florida before an ankle injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

In 2023 as a true freshman, Jackson appeared in 11 games, tallying seven tackles and three pass breakups. A native of Kissimmee, Fla., Jackson was a consensus four-star prospect at Osceola High School where he was named an ESPN Top 300 player and rated as the nation’s No. 3 overall cornerback by On3.

As a senior, he helped lead his team to a 10-4 record and a semifinal appearance in the Florida high school playoffs.

EDGE Jimari Butler: Nebraska

Jimari Butler, a standout defensive lineman during his four years at Nebraska, has signed with LSU. 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 was a key part of the 2023 Nebraska defense that limited opponents to 92.9 rushing yards per game and 18.3 points per game, the fewest for the program since joining the Big Ten in 2011.

EDGE Jack Pyburn: Florida

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.

Pyburn, the No. 6 rated edge rusher in the NCAA Transfer Portal, heads to Baton Rouge after three seasons with the Gators. Kelly and Co. were in dire need of talent in the trenches, and with Pyburn now in the mix, it provides the program with a proven body on the outside to make an immediate impact.

CB Mansoor Delane: Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech transfer pledged to Brian Kelly and the Tigers last Monday after three seasons with the Hokies. During his time in the ACC, Delane tallied 146 tackles, 16 pass breakups, six interceptions and four forced fumbles.

In 2024, Delane had his "coming out party" after tallying four interceptions on the season while leading the Hokies in the category. Now, the No. 2 rated cornerback in the NCAA Transfer Portal is Baton Rouge bound to help the Tigers' defensive backfield.

DL Sydir Mitchell: Texas

The 6-foot-6, 350-pound New Jersey native signed with the Longhorns in the 2023 Recruiting Class with impressive expectations. The young defensive lineman with limited mileage played in only nine games with the Longhorns, including four games in 2024 to maintain redshirt status.

He totaled seven tackles during his time in Austin. Mitchell will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

EDGE Patrick Payton: Florida State

Payton, the No. 1 defensive player in the NCAA Transfer Portal, was on a visit to Baton Rouge in December where LSU sealed the deal on his trip to town.

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.

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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