LSU’s latest edge-rusher experiment comes with a big name, big pedigree and a production line that still has plenty to prove. Jordan Ross arrived in Baton Rouge with the kind of résumé that turns heads: a former five-star from Vestavia Hills High in Birmingham, once rated the No. 1 edge rusher in the country and one of the top prospects in the class of 2024.
That was the version of Ross recruiters chased. LSU was among the schools in the mix back then, along with Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida State and Oregon. Now Lane Kiffin has him at LSU, and the Tigers are hoping defensive coordinator Blake Baker can help turn all that talent into something far more consistent.
The raw tools are obvious. The question is what comes next.
Through two seasons at Tennessee, Ross appeared in 22 games and never started. His career totals are modest: 1.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and 26 tackles.
Still, there’s a reason LSU is taking the swing. The scouting report attached to his profile describes him as a former five-star with SEC experience but underwhelming production, while also noting elite speed and length and the kind of upside that could carry him to Sundays if it all clicks.
Early in LSU’s preseason work, Ross has been lining up with the first-team edge group opposite Ole Miss senior transfer Princewill Umanmielen. That’s an encouraging sign for a player trying to carve out a bigger role after a quiet start to his college career.
Ross’s Tennessee run had flashes, even if the overall numbers never matched the recruiting hype. As a sophomore in 2025, he played in 11 games and was part of the rotation at edge rusher.
He logged 246 defensive snaps, topped out at 33 against Illinois in the Music City Bowl and finished that game with a career-high six tackles, plus a half-tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. He also forced a fumble and returned it 10 yards in a win over Arkansas, and he recorded 1.5 sacks in a loss against Arkansas.
His other 2025 moments included three tackles, a half-tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry against Georgia, a tackle against Kentucky, and in the opener against Syracuse, a tackle for a 5-yard loss and a pass breakup. He also had three tackles against Alabama and two in the overtime win over Mississippi State.
The freshman year was even more of a special-teams-heavy introduction. Ross played in 11 games in 2024, made his collegiate debut by blocking a punt and taking it 49 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee-Chattanooga, and earned Freshman All-SEC honors. He finished that season with three tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss while seeing most of his limited defensive work come in support roles.
The background still matters because it explains why this transfer remains such an intriguing piece for LSU. Ross was a decorated high school defender, a long, disruptive end who piled up 72 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks as a senior while helping Vestavia Hills go 9-3. He also had 49 tackles and 16 tackles for loss as a junior, and he collected a long list of awards along the way, including defensive player of the year recognition from Over the Mountain Journal and Around The State Sports.
He even brought a second sport to the table, playing basketball for Vestavia Hills and nearly averaging a double-double as a junior with 9.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. That kind of athletic profile is part of what made him such a prized recruit in the first place.
Now the Tigers are betting that the version of Ross they saw on the recruiting trail can finally show up on Saturdays.
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