Logan Diggs, the former LSU running back, has opted to leave Baton Rouge after completing a single season with the Tigers. He has now officially entered the Transfer Portal and is set to join Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels for the upcoming 2024 season, staying within the SEC.
Diggs concluded the 2023 season with impressive stats, accumulating 653 yards and scoring seven touchdowns in 10 games for the Bayou Bengals. Despite being a key player in a talent-packed backfield, he has chosen to move on from the program. Diggs had transferred to LSU after spending two seasons with Notre Dame.
Reflecting on his time with LSU during the season, Diggs expressed the significance of the experience, stating, “It meant a lot to me.” He described the bittersweet feeling of running out of the tunnel, realizing he had grown up watching such moments and now found himself living that dream.
The LSU running back roster for the 2024 season will feature Josh Williams, Kaleb Jackson, Trey Holly, and incoming freshman Caden Durham.
In addition to Diggs, another notable player making a Transfer Portal move is wide receiver Jalen Brown. The former 4-star receiver, originally from the Sunshine State, has chosen to join Florida State for the 2024 season. Despite having faced injuries and cancellations in his final high school season, Brown, a Top 80 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, brings considerable talent and potential to his new team. Brown had initially selected LSU over other top programs, including Miami, Texas A&M, and Florida State.
— Logan Diggs (@logandiggs3) January 10, 2024
CB Duce Chestnut: Syracuse
The Syracuse transfer’s stay in Baton Rouge was brief, as he appeared in only a few games, and he is now looking for his third home in three years.
Chestnut and Texas A&M transfer Denver Harris have been absent from the team for more than two months as they prepare for their next chapter.
Chestnut has revealed his next move since joining the free agency market. Harris’ future remains uncertain.
“You know, we’re going to have to sit down. “We haven’t met with them yet,” Brian Kelly said of Chestnut and Denver Harris. “We’re going to wait until the end of the semester and then we’ll sit down and have individual conversations with both of them.”
RB Armoni Goodwin: UAB
Goodwin, who did not play for the Tigers this season, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, causing his position on the depth chart to plummet.
Goodwin had 16 carries for 65 yards and zero touchdowns as a true freshman in 2021, but he saw extensive playing time in Year 2 with the Tigers.
Goodwin began the season as the Tigers’ leading rusher before suffering a knee injury that ended his season early. He had 45 carries for 267 yards and five touchdowns in his second season.
Goodwin remained a player operating at half speed after returning from injury during Fall Camp in 2023.
Now, the former American Top 150 prospect will return home to play for Trent Dilfer’s UAB Blazers.
EDGE Quency Wiggins: Colorado
Quency Wiggins, the former LSU defensive end, has disclosed his chosen destination following a brief period in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Wiggins, a promising young talent, is set to join Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Originally a four-star recruit and a Top 50 prospect in the 2022 cycle, Wiggins was highly sought after by the Tigers during the recruitment process, particularly for his skills as one of the top defensive ends in the nation.
Despite high expectations for his development, Wiggins faced a setback in his growth due to the absence of a defensive line coach during the most recent season. Recognized for his raw and versatile abilities as a defensive lineman, Wiggins became a sought-after commodity in the Transfer Portal.
With all the qualities needed to be a impactful player at a Power Five program, the former blue-chip recruit has now found a new home with Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, where he aims to continue his promising career.
DL Fitzgerald West: Undecided
West has had a unique two years in purple and gold, having played on both sides of the ball during his time in Death Valley.
During the 2023 season, he made the switch to defense, where he felt more at ease going forward. Despite a paucity of playing time, West has chosen his future position.
“I enjoy it. It’s nothing new to me. “I’ve been playing it almost my entire life, so it’s second nature to me,” West explained. “I’d say the transition learning plays and stuff isn’t too difficult for me.” I’m quite familiar with the scheme, so I know what my assignment is every time.”
OL Marlon Martinez: Mississippi State
After four seasons in Baton Rouge, LSU offensive lineman Marlon Martinez joined the NCAA Transfer Portal. This week, the savvy veteran announced his transfer to Mississippi State.
Martinez, who largely served as a backup for Brian Kelly’s team, will enter his next school as a graduate transfer with immediate eligibility.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder from Florida was a member of the Tigers’ 2020 recruiting class and now aims to make an immediate impact after obtaining SEC experience.
Martinez appeared in 45 games for LSU, starting four of them.
TE Jackson McGohan: Wisconsin
McGohan, one of the Tigers’ three freshman tight ends in the 2023 recruiting class, announced his decision to transfer to Wisconsin.
McGohan’s skill set piqued the interest of some within the program after he appeared in eight games in Year 1, but the LSU tight end depth chart remains crowded.
Mason Taylor, a junior, and freshmen Mac Markway and Ka’Morreun Pimpton will return for the 2024 season. The Tigers also signed JUCO talent Connor Gilbreath in July, despite the fact that his future appears to be on the offensive line.
Looking ahead, the Tigers also landed touted prospect Trey’Dez Green in the 2024 draft. He’ll also attempt to contend for reps early as a four-star Louisiana native.
DL Bryce Langston: Undecided
Langston, a former four-star prospect, signed with the Tigers in 2021 but appeared in only four games with the Purple and Gold.
Langston, a native of Florida, was a top signee for the Tigers in the 2021 cycle, but he never saw enough playing time with the team.
Langston has made a business decision in quest of playing time after continuing with the program and patiently waiting in an era where it’s easy to leave in the blink of an eye.
The 6-foot-3, 293-pounder joined running backs Armoni Goodwin and Kevontre Bradford, as well as cornerback Laterrance Welch, as the fourth LSU Tiger to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal at the time.
RB Kevontre Bradford: North Texas
Bradford initially joined LSU in 2020 following high school, but after a single season with the Tigers, he announced his departure and subsequently committed to Oklahoma. Despite making the move to the Big 12 conference, Bradford did not see any playing time with the Sooners.
The Texas native then opted to leave Oklahoma, returning to LSU for a second stint. However, he decided to step away from the team entirely before the 2022 season. Having gone almost two years without taking a snap at the college level, Bradford was given a third chance when new head coach Kelly added depth to the running back room.
Now, Bradford is on the move again, this time heading to North Texas as his transfer destination. Although he started the season with the first reps at running back against Florida State in Week 1, he did not take another snap after that point.
CB Laterrance Welch: Arizona State
A former highly-rated recruit, earning a four-star rating and securing a spot in the Top 150 prospects for the 2022 cycle, Welch is a player with immense potential as he embarks on the next phase of his playing career. His recent announcement identifies Arizona State as his chosen transfer destination.
During the current season, Welch contributed significantly on defense, logging 96 snaps, as reported by PFF. Additionally, he took on responsibilities with the special teams unit.
LSU is currently grappling with concerns about the depth of their defensive backfield moving forward. The current roster includes Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut, Denver Harris, JK Johnson, Sage Ryan, Ashton Stamps, Javien Toviano, and Jeremiah Hughes, among others.
Notably, both Chestnut and Harris were absent from the Tigers’ lineup during the latter part of the 2023 season for unspecified reasons. Meanwhile, Johnson was sidelined for the entire year due to a lower-body injury that necessitated surgery.