Updated Jan. 4, 2026, 9:21 p.m. CT
BATON ROUGE — The big story on day two of the transfer portal window for LSU football departures.
A number of starters entered their names into the portal as the second day rolled along, headlined by sophomore quarterback Michael Van Buren. Sophomore running back Caden Durham also put his name in the transfer portal.
New LSU coach Lane Kiffin has more clarity on where his first roster with the Tigers stand and where he and his coaching staff’s focus should lock in. Quarterback was always going to be one of the biggest needs for LSU and running back was a spot of need for depth as well but now tailback will be a higher priority.
LSU now has 22 players in the transfer portal.
Follow every LSU football transfer portal move for day three of the portal being open here.
Former LSU football DL Ahmad Breaux commits to Kentucky
Former LSU defensive tackle Ahmad Breaux has committed to Kentucky. He stays in the SEC
Breaux has two years of eligibility remaining. Over his two seasons in Baton Rouge, he recorded 36 total tackles.
LSU football losing freshman wide receiver to transfer portal
Freshman wide receiver TaRon Francis plans to enter the transfer portal, per On3.
He was a former four-star recruit during last recruiting cycle. He did not appear in any games for LSU in 2025.
Former LSU football OL Coen Echols commits to Texas A&M
Former LSU offensive lineman Coen Echols has committed to Texas A&M. He stays in the SEC. Echols started several games for the Tigers this season.
He has three years of eligibility left.
Boise State safety Ty Benefield visits LSU football
LSU football hosted Boise State junior safety transfer Ty Benefield Sunday. He is one of the top safeties in the transfer portal.
At Boise State, Benefield was an all-conference player in 2025. Benefield piled up 105 tackles with two picks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery for the Broncos.
LSU football hosting Old Dominion wide receiver
Per On3, LSU is hosting Old Dominion wide receiver transfer Tre Brown Sunday and Monday. Ohio State is also in the mix for the receiver’s services and will host him following his visit to Baton Rouge.
Brown has two years of eligibility left and in 2025 for the Monarchs, he managed 38 receptions for 762 yards with four scores. He averaged more than 20 yards per catch.
LSU football lands first transfer portal commit from Jackson Harris
As things stand, LSU’s roster is very much in flux as a lot of wide receivers have either entered their name into the 2026 NFL Draft or are in the transfer portal themselves.
So Harris fits in well as there’s little depth at the position right now for the Tigers. But he fits exactly what Kiffin and his offensive staff were looking for out of the portal, so Harris should be in line to compete for playing time right away in Baton Rouge.
Tamarcus Cooley to return to LSU football
The sense surrounding sophomore safety Tamarcus Cooley after the end of the season was that he’d be back for LSU next season. That sense is now a reality as LSU announced Sunday that Cooley will run it back with the Tigers under Lane Kiffin next season.
In his first season with LSU in 2025, Cooley finished with 72 tackles and two interceptions.
LSU football in running for Florida transfer defensive back
Florida defensive back transfer Jordan Castell is down to three schools and LSU is among them, according to On3. LSU is battling Ole Miss and Kentucky for Castell and he plans to visit all three schools starting with Ole Miss Sunday, followed by Kentucky Monday before heading to Baton Rouge Jan. 8.
Castell has started 34 straight games for the Gators and had 168 career tackles.
Michael Van Buren to enter transfer portal
LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reports.
Van Buren told reporters following the Texas Bowl that he and Lane Kiffin have had conversations and that he believed that they were in a good place. During the season, the quarterback said that he believed he had a future in Baton Rouge despite the then looming coaching change.
He started the final four games for LSU while senior Garrett Nussmeier sat out due to an injury and he threw for 1,010 yards, eight touchdowns with two interceptions.
Kansas State transfer WR Jayce Brown plans to visit LSU football
Kansas State transfer wide receiver Jayce Brown has LSU among six schools he plans to visit over the coming days, according to On3. Brown is also looking at Georgia, Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky and Louisville for visits.
Brown has 1,233 career receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
LSU football to host Clemson transfer Stephiylan Green
LSU is in the market for defensive linemen and Kiffin and company are bringing in some of the best talent in the transfer portal at those positions.
Clemson defensive lineman Stephiylan Green is planning to be in Baton Rouge to check out Kiffin’s program Sunday and Monday, On3 reports. Green has started six games over his two years at Clemson.
Florida transfer Eugene Wilson set to visit LSU football
Texas A&M will get him to visit first but LSU football will host Florida transfer wide out Eugene Wilson over the coming days, On3 reports. Wilson will likely be in Baton Rouge the beginning of next week.
In three years with the Gators, the playmaker has amassed 1,043 yards on 107 receptions with 10 scores.
Caden Durham enters transfer portal
LSU loses one of its top running backs in Caden Durham as he has entered the transfer portal.
This move was anticipated as freshman Harlem Berry, who is returning to Baton Rouge, overtook the sophomore for the starting running back role for the second half of the 2025 season. Also, his former position coach Frank Wilson is now on staff at Ole Miss.
Durham finished the season with 111 carries for 505 yards and three touchdowns.
LSU football to host running back transfer
California-Davis sophomore tailback transfer Carter Vargas is taking a visit to LSU Saturday. Depth at running back is thin for the Tigers with little experience and Vargas is one of top targets currently in the portal.
This past season, Vargas rushed for five touchdowns along with 445 yards on 67 carries.
Trey’Dez Green agrees to new deal with LSU football
LSU won’t have to be in the market for a tight end this transfer portal window. Sophomore standout Trey’Dez Green will remain with the Tigers as he and LSU have agreed to a new deal that’ll keep him n Baton Rouge.
Green is a massive red zone target and has blossomed over just two seasons at LSU. He caught 33 passes for 433 yards and seven scores in 2025.
LSU football in running for top defensive transfer from Penn State
On3’s Steve Wiltfong reports that LSU is one of the early leading candidates to possibly land Penn State edge rusher transfer Chaz Coleman. Ohio State and Tennessee is also in the mix.
Currently, Coleman is the top rated defensive end in the transfer portal according to the 247Sports Composite and the No. 2 overall player available.
“It sounds like It’s LSU and Tennessee that are the programs emerging as the price tag continues to go up for Chaz Coleman in the initial discussions for his signature and an opportunity,” Wiltfong said.
LSU football looks to land visit from NC State transfer
Soon after LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas announced he was entering his name into the 2026 NFL Draft, reports surfaced of LSU trying to get North Carolina State transfer wide receiver Terrell Anderson in for a visit.
This season, Anderson put up 629 receiving yards on 39 catches with five touchdowns. Anderson has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Pair of LSU football transfers set to visit Kentucky
Per multiple reports, LSU transfers, offensive lineman Tyree Adams and defensive lineman Ahmad Breaux, are planning to take a visit to Kentucky.
On3 reports that Breaux is also locking in a visit to Mississippi State as well.
Adams was a multi-year starter at left tackle for LSU but missed time this season with an ankle injury and subsequent surgery for the high-ankle sprain. Breaux played in 12 games during his sophomore season in 2025, collecting 19 tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks.
LSU football ‘in contact’ with McNeese State transfer
Veteran McNeese State cornerback Javon Davis has been “in contact” with LSU football, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot, 183-pound defensive back has more than 30 career starts, which he’s been a starter across four seasons at McNeese.
Davis has three interceptions, all of which came this season, along with 116 tackles, including 2.5 sacks.
LSU has multiple starters returning at cornerback but depth behind P.J. Woodland and freshman D.J. Pickett is slim outside of Ja’Keem Jackson.
Brendan Sorsby to visit LSU football
The top rated quarterback currently in the transfer portal, Cincinnati senior Brendan Sorsby is planning to take a visit to LSU, per ESPN. He is expected to be in Baton Rouge sometime this weekend.
Sorsby has thrown for more than 7,000 yards in his career with 60 touchdowns. This past season at Cincinnati, he passed for 2,800 yards, 36 TDs while adding 580 yards on the ground.
Kiffin needs a quarterback for his first roster at LSU in a bad way and he’ll be heavily involved with the best options in the transfer portal and that starts with Sorsby.
Iverson Hooks to visit LSU football
UAB transfer wide receiver Iverson Hooks will visit LSU Jan.7-8, according to an On3 report. LSU is one of seven schools that Hooks plans to visit while in the transfer portal.
The sophomore wide out was the Blazer’s best offensive option, catching 72 passes for 927 yards and seven touchdowns.
LSU’s top four wide receivers from 2025 are departing the team whether it be through the transfer portal or entering their name into the 2026 NFL Draft.
What LSU football players have entered transfer portal?
- Quarterback Michael Van Buren
- Running back Caden Durham
- Running back J.T. Lindsey
- Wide receiver Kyle Parker
- Linebacker Princeton Malbrue
- Offensive lineman Carius Curne
- Defensive back Austin Ausberry
- Running back Ju’Juan Johnson
- Offensive lineman Tyree Adams
- Offensive lineman Paul Mubenga
- Offensive lineman Ory Williams
- Offensive lineman D.J. Chester
- Offensive lineman Coen Echols
- Quarterback Tre People
- Running back Kaleb Jackson
- Quarterback Colin Hurley
- Defensive lineman Ahmad Breaux
- Wide receiver Jelani Watkins
- Cornerback Wallace Foster
- Cornerback Ashton Stamps
- Wide receiver Kylan Billiot
- Defensive lineman Sydir Mitchell
When does transfer portal close
The NCAA transfer portal window closes on Jan. 16. Players cannot enter their name in the portal following that date. But those who’s 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.