The hits just keep coming for LSU’s offensive line. As the Tigers look ahead to a new era under Lane Kiffin, the trenches are thinning out fast - and the latest departure only adds to the growing list of exits. Redshirt freshman Ory Williams is now the sixth offensive lineman from LSU to announce plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Williams, a 6-foot-8, 335-pound tackle out of San Marcos, Texas, played in 12 games this past season and started twice. He saw action in 13 games total over his two years in Baton Rouge. Originally a 3-star recruit and the No. 28 offensive tackle in the 2024 class, Williams still has three years of eligibility left - and will now look to use them elsewhere.
His departure comes on the heels of five other LSU offensive linemen entering the portal: 5-star freshman Carius Curne, redshirt freshman Coen Echols, and redshirt sophomores DJ Chester, Tyree Adams, and Paul Mubenga. That’s a significant chunk of the depth chart walking out the door, and it underscores just how much work Kiffin and newly hired offensive line coach Eric Wolford have ahead of them.
In total, LSU has now seen 15 players declare for the transfer portal, and the window doesn’t officially open until January 2. For a program in transition, the timing isn’t ideal - but it’s also an opportunity to reshape the roster from the ground up.
The offensive line was an area of concern throughout the 2025 season. Injuries piled up, and consistency was hard to come by. With only Solomon Thomas and Braelin Moore expected to return, the group protecting whoever lines up under center in 2026 will look almost entirely different.
But there is some help on the way. The incoming recruiting class features 4-star offensive lineman Brysten Martinez, rated as the No. 4 player in Louisiana and the No. 10 offensive lineman nationally by 247Sports. He’s joined by 3-star interior lineman Ryan Miret, who flipped from Ole Miss shortly after Kiffin took the LSU job.
Still, relying on freshmen to anchor the offensive line in the SEC is a tall order. That’s why the portal will be critical. Expect Kiffin and Wolford to be aggressive in targeting experienced linemen who can step in and contribute right away.
LSU’s offensive identity is shifting, and the line is going to play a central role in that transformation. With so many vacancies to fill, the next few weeks will be telling - not just in terms of who they bring in, but in how quickly they can stabilize a unit that’s been anything but steady.
For now, the message is clear: the rebuild in Baton Rouge starts in the trenches.