Ranking LSU football's top five transfers of 2025

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LSU football signed the top-ranked transfer portal class in college football, according to 247Sports. LSU spent a lot of money on some prized additions and it led to LSU begining the year ranked in the top-10 with championship expectations.

LSU began the year 4-0 and climbed into the top five. It looked like LSU’s transfer class was paying off, at least on defense. But issues persisted on offense, where LSU’s transfers weren’t clicking at wide receiver and the additions on the offensive line weren’t enough, either.

LSU lost to Ole Miss and LSU began to tumble. LSU started losing and head coach Brian Kelly was fired. It was Kelly’s most talented LSU roster, but with the talent came expectations. LSU fell short of those lofty standards.

But the transfer class wasn’t a complete bust. Several newcomers weren’t significant difference makers on defense. Here are LSU’s top five transfers of 2025.

5. Patrick Payton, Defensive End, Florida State

Patrick Payton transferred to LSU after spending four years at Florida State. Payton was one of the most experienced players in the portal and ESPN viewed Payton as one of the top players in the transfer class. Payton played a role in FSU’s undefeated regular season in 2023, but struggled in 2024. LSU didn’t know which version of Payton it would get.

The Tigers got something closer to the 2023 version of Payton. The veteran was a productive edge defender, getting after the passer and stopping the run. Payton finished the regular season with 23 pressures and 16 stops. His full impact can’t be captured on the stat sheet, though. Payton’s physicality vs the run allowed LSU DC Blake Baker to be flexible with his run fits.

Payton was active in opposing backfields, often forcing the ball to another LSU defender to make the stop. Payton boosted his draft stock in Baton Rouge.

4. Jack Pyburn, Defensive End, Florida

Defensive end was a big need for LSU in the portal last year. The Tigers practically had no returning production at the position, making veteran defensive ends a priority. Along with Payton, LSU signed Jack Pyburn from Florida.

Many of the same things I said about Payton can be said about Pyburn. He was impactful vs the run and pass, pressuring the QB 31 times while making 24 stops.

Pyburn brought physicality and leadership to a defensive front that needed it. Pyburn finished the regular season on a high note, with nine pressures over his final three games.

3. Bernard Gooden, Defensive Tackle, USF

Gooden was a late addition to LSU’s transfer class, signing with the Tigers in late April. He turned into one of the best interior pass rushers in the SEC, racking up 23 pressures. That ranked No. 5 among defensive tackles in the conference.

Gooden was disruptive vs. the run, making 11 stops. Gooden didn’t have the size of other elite defensive tackles in the SEC, but it’s rare to see a defensive lineman with his level of explosiveness. Gooden has another year of eligibility, but he’s likely off to the NFL after a productive 2025.

2. AJ Haulcy, Safety, Houston

Like Gooden, Haulcy was another spring transfer portal addition and he proved to be a needed one. LSU’s safety position was a problem for several years leading up to 2025 — that made the position a major need in the portal. When Haulcy entered in April, he was too good to pass up.

Per PFF, Haulcy finished the regular season as the No. 2 graded safety in the SEC, only trailing Texas’ Michael Taffe. Haulcy was elite in coverage, breaking up four passes and earning a 58.6 NFL passer rating when targeted.

Few safeties played as much man as Haulcy did, which opened up the entire playbook for Baker’s defense.

1. Mansoor Delane, Cornerback, Virginia Tech

This one was easy. Delane wasn’t just LSU’s best transfer — he was one of the best in the country. The LSU cornerback was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, annually given to the best defensive back in the country.

By all standards, Delane was elite. He was a true shutdown corner for LSU’s defense, completely taking away one side of the field. Clemson threw at Delane eight times in Week 1 without much success. Offenses didn’t throw his way much for the rest of the year.

LSU wanted Delane because the Tigers needed a proven veteran at cornerback. Delane exceeded all expectations and played himself into the first round of the NFL Draft.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Ranking LSU football’s top five transfer portal additions of 2025

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