LSU football lands Jordan Ross from transfer portal: How former Tennessee DE fits
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BATON ROUGE – No better way to start a day during the transfer portal window than landing a player rated high on your board at their respective position.
That’s what Lane Kiffin and LSU football did Friday morning, Jan. 9. Tennessee sophomore edge rusher Jordan Ross has signed with the Tigers, according to multiple reports. The former five-star recruit is a massive get for LSU, who continues to scour the portal for defensive players to help bolster a group that has seen a number of departures since the end of the 2025 season.
After Ross’s commitment, LSU is now up to four defensive linemen coming to Baton Rouge from the transfer portal. So far, five defensive players have been added and 14 transfers totals.
Ross was a freshman All-SEC performer in 2025. He finished his freshman campaign in Knoxville with 23 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Why Jordan Ross picked LSU football out of transfer portal
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel fired his defensive coordinator Tim Banks this offseason, so the Volunteers endured some coaching changes over the last month-plus.
For Ross, had he stayed, that would mean starting over in the eyes of a new defensive coach. It’s likely the former top-rated edge rusher was not keen on doing that and wanted to remain in the SEC, as he did have a visit to Alabama scheduled following his visit to LSU but ultimately decided to go ahead and sign.
How Jordan Ross will fit LSU football’s roster
Simply put, LSU and Ross are a perfect fit for one another. What LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker likes to do with his pass rushers fits how Ross likes to play. And Ross’ skill set is what LSU was looking for out of the transfer portal.
And with the thin numbers at the position, Ross can challenge for playing time immediately upon coming to Baton Rouge and the expectation is that he’ll be a contributor from day one.
LSU football transfer targets
- Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt
- Alabama offensive lineman Micah DeBose
- Penn State edge rusher Chaz Coleman
- North Carolina State wide receiver Terrell Anderson
- California-Davis running back Carter Vargas
- McNeese State cornerback Javon Davis
When does transfer portal close?
The NCAA transfer portal window closes Jan. 16. Players cannot enter their name in the portal following that date. But those whose name is already in the transfer portal can still decide and sign with a new school after Jan. 16.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How Tennessee transfer Jordan Ross fits at LSU football
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