When AJ Haulcy transferred from Houston to LSU ahead of the 2025 season, expectations were solid-but not sky-high. A four-star portal prospect and the No. 3 safety in the class according to 247Sports, Haulcy brought talent, sure. But few predicted just how much of an impact he’d make in Baton Rouge.
Fast forward to the end of the season, and Haulcy wasn’t just a contributor-he was a cornerstone. The junior safety anchored LSU’s defense with the kind of consistency and playmaking that earned him first-team All-SEC honors.
Week after week, he showed up in big moments, whether it was flying downhill to stuff the run or dropping back to disrupt passing lanes. His instincts and range were on full display, and by season’s end, he wasn’t just one of the best defenders in the conference-he was one of the best in the country.
That recognition extended beyond the SEC. On Wednesday, Haulcy landed at No. 53 on Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players from the 2025 season. For a player who came into the year flying under the national radar, that’s a significant nod to the kind of season he put together.
But LSU fans won’t get to see a sequel. Haulcy declared for the NFL Draft shortly after the Tigers wrapped up their season, choosing to take his talents to the next level.
Now comes the tricky part: figuring out where he fits in the draft puzzle. Safeties have historically been undervalued in the early rounds, and that positional bias can cloud projections. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database’s 2026 Consensus Board, Haulcy sits at No. 55 overall-just a few spots ahead of another former Tiger, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
Still, Haulcy has a golden opportunity to boost his stock in the coming weeks. He’ll be suiting up for the Panini Senior Bowl, where he’ll go head-to-head with some of the best prospects in the country.
The practices leading up to the game are often just as important as the game itself, especially for defensive backs. Teams will be watching closely to see how he handles one-on-one coverage drills, how quickly he diagnoses plays, and how well he communicates in a new defensive system.
If he brings the same energy and execution to Mobile that he brought to Death Valley all season long, don’t be surprised if he starts climbing draft boards in a hurry. Haulcy may not be the loudest name in this year’s class, but he’s got the game to make noise where it matters most.