LSU head coach Brian Kelly is intensifying the search for defensive line reinforcements after missing out on top targets Damonic Williams and Simeon Barrow. The Tigers are now eyeing Grand Valley State defensive tackle Jay’Viar Suggs and Stephen F. Austin’sBrandon Lane. Suggs, who has impressed with 42 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and nine passes defended over two seasons, has announced a commitment date for Wednesday, though the exact time remains unspecified.
New: GVSU DT Jay’Viar Suggs has wrapped up his multi-night stay in Baton Rouge.
Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, and Wisconsin are the final contenders for Suggs’ transfer. Meanwhile, Lane, who logged 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks last season, is also scheduled to visit LSU. Originally committed to Michigan State, Lane has since reconsidered his options.
Adding to their recruitment efforts, LSU will host defensive back Wesley Walker, who previously played for Georgia Tech and Tennessee before briefly joining Louisville. Walker reentered the transfer portal after spring training, seeking a new opportunity. The Tigers’ only spring addition so far is Wisconsin’s Gio Paez, a sixth-year senior noted for his run-defending capabilities.
Despite this addition, LSU’s defensive tackle position remains thin, with significant reliance on freshmen Ahmad Breaux and Dominick McKinley to step up immediately. The Tigers also hope that former five-star recruit DaShawn Womack can become a dominant force on the edge. This uncertainty is concerning for a defense that allowed 6.1 yards per play last season and suffered a high-scoring defeat where their offense managed 49 points in regulation.
