LSU Football: Tigers Extend Invitation to Highly Sought-After Defensive Tackle from Transfer Portal
The purple and gold team continues its search for depth on the defensive line by extending an offer to Jay’Viar Suggs from Grand Valley State.
Brian Kelly and the LSU football staff are actively seeking to bolster their defensive tackle depth during this offseason, and a fresh target has emerged for the program. On Wednesday, the Tigers extended an offer to Jay’Viar Suggs from Grand Valley State, with defensive line coach Bo Davis and his team reaching out to him.
Suggs has garnered significant attention since entering the NCAA Transfer Portal last month. The highly sought-after defensive tackle has made several visits, including recent trips to Michigan, Florida State, and USC. This week, Suggs unveiled his Top 6 schools, comprising USC, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida State, Arkansas, and Kentucky.
LSU’s entry into the mix indicates a late but determined effort by the purple and gold. Interestingly, there are connections between Suggs and LSU head coach Brian Kelly, suggesting a potential mutual interest in joining forces.
Kelly enjoyed a successful stint at Grand Valley State, where he served as head coach for several years, leading the program to two Division II National Championships. Additionally, Kelly’s youngest son, Kenzel, was part of the Grand Valley State coaching staff during the 2023 season, alongside Suggs.
These connections between both parties suggest a potential familiarity and rapport. LSU will undoubtedly continue its efforts to recruit the coveted defensive tackle, although they face an uphill battle after Suggs revealed his Top 6 schools on Tuesday.
Hailing from Michigan, Suggs will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next destination after spending five years with Grand Valley State. His first year with the program saw a redshirt, followed by the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 282 pounds, Suggs showcased his prowess on the field during the 2022 season, recording 21 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble. He maintained his consistency in the subsequent 2023 season, tallying 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and another forced fumble.
Suggs has been a reliable performer at the Division II level, but he’s now eyeing a step up to compete at a Power Four school. Several prestigious programs, including LSU, have shown interest in him.
In addition to pursuing Suggs, LSU has also entered the race for another highly sought-after defensive tackle, Adin Huntington.
The Bayou Bengals are actively recruiting Adin Huntington, a defensive tackle from UL-Monroe, who is seeking a new team after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal last month. Sources have confirmed to LSU Country that LSU is vying for Huntington’s services, with On3 Sports being the first to report LSU’s interest.
Huntington, who earned All-Sun Belt honors during his lone year at Monroe, has emerged as one of the most coveted defensive linemen in the transfer market, drawing attention from several programs.
LSU is now among the schools in contention as they assess potential transfer targets and restructure their recruitment plans.
The Tigers are clearly in need of bolstering their defensive tackle depth, evident from their pursuit of Suggs and now Huntington, after missing out on recruits Damonic Williams, Simeon Barrow, and Philip Blidi, who opted to take their talents elsewhere despite recent visits to LSU.
Huntington will undoubtedly be a priority for LSU in the coming weeks as he deliberates over his decision. While he has remained tight-lipped on social media about the programs he’s considering, the intense competition for defensive tackle prospects indicates a high level of interest from schools.
During the 2023 season with the Warhawks, Huntington showcased his skills with impressive statistics, tallying 63 tackles, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 28 solo tackles.
Before joining UL-Monroe, Huntington spent three seasons at Kent State before transferring to Louisiana.
Moving forward, LSU will persist in their efforts to recruit both Suggs and Huntington as they intensify their focus on the transfer portal.
Stay tuned to LSU Country for updates on the Tigers’ activities in the NCAA Transfer Portal as they strive to bolster their defensive line depth this offseason.
