LSU’s offensive line is taking another hit, as redshirt freshman DJ Chester is officially entering the transfer portal. After three seasons in Baton Rouge, Chester is moving on with two years of eligibility still on the table - and his departure adds to what’s shaping up to be a significant reshuffling in the trenches for the Tigers.
Chester’s breakout moment came in 2024, when he stepped into the starting center role and didn’t look back. He started all 13 games that season, logging snaps in every offensive series but one - and in 12 of those 13 games, he played every single down. That kind of consistency and durability earned him Freshman All-SEC honors, a nod to both his talent and his rapid development as a redshirt freshman anchoring the middle of the line.
Heading into 2025, Chester was expected to be a cornerstone for LSU’s offensive front. With the most starting experience returning, he looked like a natural leader for a unit that had already seen some turnover.
But things didn’t go as planned. He slid down the depth chart and ended up appearing in just seven games, working across multiple interior positions as LSU’s line battled through a wave of injuries.
It was a tough break for a player who had shown so much promise just a season earlier.
Chester came to LSU as a highly touted recruit out of Georgia, ranked as the No. 7 interior offensive lineman in the 2023 class and a top-10 player in the state. His combination of size, athleticism, and versatility made him one of the more intriguing young linemen in the SEC. That upside is still very much intact - and with two years of eligibility remaining, Chester figures to be a valuable pickup for a program in need of interior line help.
His exit is part of a broader trend for LSU, which has seen several offensive linemen hit the portal this offseason. Paul Mubenga, Coen Echols, Carius Curne, and Ory Williams have all entered the transfer portal as well, leaving new head coach Lane Kiffin with some serious work to do up front. Rebuilding the offensive line is now a top priority heading into spring workouts, and how quickly LSU can retool that group will go a long way in determining how competitive the Tigers can be in Kiffin’s first year at the helm.
For Chester, the next chapter is wide open. He’s proven he can handle the demands of starting in the SEC, and his versatility on the interior only boosts his value. Wherever he lands, he’ll bring experience, toughness, and a high ceiling - the kind of traits every coaching staff is looking for in the portal.