As Lane Kiffin settles into his new role at LSU, one thing is already clear: the Tigers are going to be active in the transfer portal. That’s been Kiffin’s calling card in recent years, and it’s paid off-just look at what he did at Ole Miss, where his portal prowess helped engineer the Rebels’ best-ever regular season in 2025. Now, LSU fans are watching closely to see how that same strategy plays out in Baton Rouge.
Kiffin’s offensive reputation is well-earned, but for LSU to take the next step, the defense needs to keep pace. That’s where defensive coordinator Blake Baker comes in.
The Tigers made serious strides on that side of the ball last season, thanks in part to some savvy portal additions. Now, the challenge is to reload-not rebuild-and continue that momentum into 2026.
One name to keep an eye on? Colorado safety Tawfiq Byard.
Byard is expected to hit the portal in January, and he’s already drawing attention as one of the top defensive backs available. He’s got two years of eligibility left, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Over the past two seasons, he’s racked up 140 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions. That’s production you don’t often find on the open market.
After transferring from South Florida, Byard found his groove at Colorado in 2025-even as the Buffaloes struggled to meet expectations under Deion Sanders. While the team faltered, Byard stood out.
He led Colorado with 79 tackles, 7.5 of them behind the line of scrimmage, and consistently showed up in big moments. Whether it was stuffing a run on third down or flying in to break up a pass, Byard was the heartbeat of that defense.
And now, he’s looking for his next stop.
LSU, for its part, has already shown it knows how to land impact players in the secondary. Last offseason, the Tigers brought in cornerback Mansoor Delane and safety AJ Haulcy-both of whom turned in All-American seasons.
Delane earned Consensus All-American honors, while Haulcy was named First-Team All-American. That’s not just good recruiting; that’s identifying talent that fits your system and maximizing it.
Byard could be the next piece in that puzzle.
He’s got the versatility to play multiple roles in the secondary, the physicality to contribute in run support, and the instincts to make plays in coverage. In short, he checks a lot of boxes for a team looking to stay aggressive on defense. And with LSU’s recent success developing portal talent, it’s easy to see why this could be a natural fit.
Kiffin's reputation as an offensive mind may grab the headlines, but make no mistake-his ability to build a complete roster through the portal is what makes him especially dangerous in today’s college football landscape. If LSU can land a player like Tawfiq Byard, it would be another signal that the Tigers aren’t just aiming to compete-they’re looking to contend.