BREAKING NEWS: Finally, LSU football’s main player has moved.
After a month-long search for defensive tackles, LSU secured a commitment on Wednesday night from Grand Valley State transfer Jay’viar Suggs.
Suggs announced his decision on social media, providing the Tigers with another option on the defensive line as they aim to bolster the position. Hailing from Flint, Michigan, Suggs selected LSU over offers from Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 282 pounds, Suggs appeared in 22 games over the last two seasons at Grand Valley State. Over this period, he recorded 42 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and four hurries.
Suggs is the second defensive tackle transfer LSU has added this offseason, following Wisconsin sixth-year senior Gio Paez.
A connection to LSU helped in Suggs’ recruitment. LSU coach Brian Kelly began his coaching career at Grand Valley State, where he won two Division II national championships, and Kelly’s youngest son, Kenzel, was Suggs’ teammate.
Suggs had initially identified six final schools before LSU offered him a scholarship last week. He revised his top four schools to include LSU the day after receiving the offer and then visited Baton Rouge from Sunday to Tuesday before deciding.
Prior to adding Suggs, LSU had been searching for weeks for transfer defensive tackles, making the position a priority after Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo declared for the NFL draft, which left the position lacking depth and experienced starters. LSU entered spring practice with five scholarship defensive tackles, including a converted offensive lineman.
As players entered the transfer portal last month, LSU targeted TCU junior Damonic Williams and Michigan State senior Simeon Barrow. Both were hosted by LSU, but sources indicated they sought more NIL money than LSU was willing to offer. Williams chose Oklahoma, and Barrow went to Miami.
LSU also offered scholarships to Indiana transfer Philip Blidi and Kent State transfer CJ West. Blidi visited Baton Rouge but opted for Auburn, while West committed to Indiana.
With Suggs, LSU now has nine defensive tackles on its online roster. Freshman Ahmad Breaux has been moved inside, and Suggs, Paez, and five-star freshman Dominick McKinley will join this summer. Preferred walk-on Preston Hickey might also compete for playing time as LSU finalizes its depth chart. Sixth-year seniors Jacobian Guillory and Jalen Lee started the spring game.