It might be too late to discuss the 2025 transfer portal findings, but here we are. But again, what better time to introspect whether the gambles paid off or not, now that Week 4 is over? According to Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers made the most out of their NIL to pick up the best of the lot. And some of the credit definitely goes to Kelly himself. He and his wife, Paqui, pledged to match up to $1M for LSU\u2019s NIL collective through the Tiger Athletic Foundation\u2019s Excellence Fund. And how far did they go on the transfer portal?<\/p>\n
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Kelly revealed the Tigers spent about $18 million on their 2025 roster under new NIL rules. The result? They have locked in 18 transfers this transfer season. Amidst the dozen newcomers, three of them stood out in Kiffin\u2019s eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On September 22, Wilson Alexander wrote on X, \u201cLane Kiffin said LSU\u2019s three starting transfer defensive backs \u2014 Mansoor Delane, Tamarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy \u2014 were \u201cprobably the three most expensive portal DBs in the market.\u201d \u201cAnd they got them all. They did a great job with that, and now they\u2019re coaching them really well.\u201d\u201d Back in December 2024, Virginia Tech underwent the biggest heartbreak. Thanks to their star cornerback, Mansoor Delane, who chose to jump into the transfer portal. Kelly had his eyes on him as he carried some strong stats in three seasons at Virginia Tech.<\/p>\n
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Lane Kiffin said LSU\u2019s three starting transfer defensive backs \u2014 Mansoor Delane, Tamarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy \u2014 were \u201cprobably the three most expensive portal DBs in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they got them all. They did a great job with that, and now they\u2019re coaching them really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Wilson Alexander (@whalexander_) September 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n He totaled 16 passes defended, six interceptions, four forced fumbles, and 146 tackles. Along with a couple of power programs like Georgia, Miami, and others, Kiffin, too, was running the race to land Delane. But neither of their luck favored, and Kelly was the one who wooed the cornerback\u2019s heart. How are the efforts paying off? As the first month of the 2025 season wrapped up, PFF has its list of top five SEC cornerbacks, and Kelly\u2019s cornerback, Delane, made the cut, taking the No.1 rank.\u00a0<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Delane smothered Clemson in Week 1, giving up only one rub-route catch on eight targets. Against Florida? Just 2 grabs for 11 yards on 6 tries. The next big haul for Kelly was Tamarcus Cooley. This year, in January, the Tigers signed former NC State safety. But what made Kelly pursue him?<\/p>\n He fills a major need for LSU, as they have been inconsistent at the position last season after Major Burns graduated and Sage Ryan transferred to Ole Miss. Kelly endured big losses with Jordan Allen and Kylin Jackson hitting the portal. During the Tigers\u2019 Week 3 win against Florida, Cooley stood out, finishing the game with eight tackles and an interception. That interception got them off the field late in the fourth quarter to maintain their 20-10 lead. Who\u2019s next in Kelly\u2019s squad that Kiffin is impressed with?<\/p>\n Houston transfer safety AJ Haulcy committed to LSU after entering the transfer portal this spring. According to PFF, Haulcy has posted an 81.0 coverage grade, ranking No. 4 among SEC safeties. Against Florida, Kelly\u2019s safety nagged a pick, holds a 56.4 passer rating when targeted, with 7 stops and 2 QB pressures. Not just the transfer portal, looks like Kelly got lucky with a high school recruit too.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brian Kelly gets stuck in the middle of recruiting wins and program struggles<\/p>\n LSU is home to a triple threat<\/a>. That\u2019s none other than Ju\u2019Juan Johnson. Known as Mr Versatility, the 4-star recruit docked his wagon at LSU in May 2023. Having an eye for talent, Kelly could see Johnson\u2019s potential and flipped him out of Colorado. The Lafayette Christian Academy standout excelled as a quarterback in high school. Kelly, however, signed him as a defensive back.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Cut to 2024, the head coach tried Johnson for the running back position. While it might be too much for the young chap to handle, he considers it to be a \u201cblessing\u201d to learn different things. \u201cOh, of course. At quarterback, you\u2019ve got to really learn what everyone is doing on the field. Like you just can\u2019t learn what you\u2019re doing,\u201d replied Johnson. \u201cSo, going from quarterback to running back, I kind of knew already like what the offense was, what it was.\u201d Now, will his recruiting wins make Kelly\u2019s seat less hot?\u00a0The LSU head coach is running on borrowed time, as he himself once said, to be judged after four years. Now, it is not the sweetest time for Brian Kelly to carry the burden of a broken program<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Josh Pate did not mince his words and said, \u201cLSU is an A minus for me. Some of their folks are a little down after last night. They only won 23-7 against Louisiana Tech. Well, you\u2019ll notice we added Louisiana Tech on our best bets. I thought that game was pretty easy to see coming. Little bit of a let down spot, little bit of a look ahead spot. The offensive line very up and down.\u201d Brian Kelly\u2019s future may hinge on his portal pickups. But how long can they hold off the axe?<\/p>\n