LSU is looking to make a major move on the defensive side of the ball - and if things fall into place, it could have ripple effects well beyond the coaching staff.
According to reports, LSU is expected to bring in South Carolina’s Sterling Lucas to join its defensive staff. Lucas has worn multiple hats in Columbia, serving as the Gamecocks’ defensive run game coordinator, defensive ends coach, and outside linebackers coach. More importantly, he’s built a reputation as a strong recruiter and a sharp developer of talent - especially along the edge.
And while adding a coach of Lucas' caliber would be a win in itself, the bigger storyline might be who could follow him to Baton Rouge.
South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart, one of the most decorated freshmen in the country last season, was recruited by Lucas - and that connection is hard to ignore. Stewart’s 2024 campaign was impressive by any standard, but even more so considering he played through a significant injury. South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer described it as “basically a broken back,” yet Stewart still managed to produce like one of the top edge defenders in the SEC.
Let’s put that into perspective: Stewart tied for seventh among SEC edge rushers in pressures (37), sixth in sacks (5), and 10th in run stops (12), per Pro Football Focus. Those are strong numbers for any player - but for a true freshman battling a serious injury? That’s rare air.
And if that’s what a “down year” looks like, it’s scary to think what Stewart could do at full strength.
In 2024, Stewart earned FWAA Freshman All-American honors, was named First-Team All-SEC, and was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. His pass-rush grade from PFF?
A stellar 91.4 - sixth-best in the nation. He also recorded 51 total pressures, ranking 10th in the country.
That’s elite production from a first-year player, and it speaks volumes about his ceiling.
Lucas, if hired, is expected to coach LSU’s interior defensive line. But his relationship with Stewart opens an intriguing possibility: could the sophomore edge rusher follow his former coach to LSU?
There’s no concrete buzz yet about Stewart entering the transfer portal or making a move, but if it happens, it would be a game-changer for LSU’s defense in 2026. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker already has a strong unit in place, but what it lacked in 2025 was a true game-wrecking pass rusher. Stewart could be that missing piece - the kind of edge presence that turns a good defense into a dominant one.
If you watched him at all in 2024, you saw flashes of his explosiveness, power, and relentless motor - even when he wasn’t fully healthy. One play against Texas A&M, in particular, showed off all three traits in one sequence, reminding everyone why he was one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
So while the spotlight right now is on LSU’s pursuit of Lucas, keep an eye on the dominoes that could fall after. If Stewart follows his former coach to Baton Rouge, the Tigers might not just be adding a coach - they could be landing one of the most disruptive young defenders in college football.