Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers have proven they will be “very aggressive” in the NCAA Transfer Portal this month with the program already up to eight commitments in December.

Following the 2024 regular season, Kelly stated that the program would utilize the window in order to be aggressive and bolster the roster for next season. Kelly and Co. have backed their statements.

Now, LSU is up to eight additions to this point with four on offense and four on defense.

What is LSU getting in the newcomers? A look into each impactful transfer.

The Impact: Looking Into the Additions on Offense

– TE Bauer Sharp: Oklahoma
– WR Barion Brown: Kentucky
– QB Michael Van Buren: Mississippi State
– WR Destyn Hill: Florida State

Bauer Sharp… LSU signed former Oklahoma tight end Bauer Sharp on Friday once the coveted transfer went public with a decision to join the Tigers. He’s coming off of a year after leading the Sooners in receptions (42) and receiving yards (324) in 2024.

Look for Sharp to come in and be a versatile piece for the LSU offense in both the receiving and blocking game. Brian Kelly raved about his physicality in the run-game. It’ll be how he’s used most in 2025.

“He’s a talented player with physicality; especially in the run game. If you watch him closely, some of the things they did with him in the passing game, we’ve seen from other tight ends,” Kelly said of Sharp on Friday after the signing was made official.

“If you really look at his body of work, it’s the physicality in the run game. Pulling, blocking tackles, being out on the perimeter. Love his physicality in the run-game. Still, a very good athlete. He came in as a quarterback at Southeast Louisiana. He has the ability to do some really good things for us in the passing game as well.”

Barion Brown… Brown went public with a decision to sign with the LSU Tigers on Saturday after a midweek visit to Baton Rouge. After a three-year stint with Kentucky, Brown now heads to LSU with over 120 career catches, 1500+ receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns.

Brown also holds the record for most kick return touchdowns in SEC history with five in his college career. Look for Brown to be an integral piece to LSU’s success in 2025.

“Explosiveness, veteran presence, maturity that he brings to the room. We have some young players and I think it’s pretty clear, when you’re recruiting receivers you’re looking at who your quarterback is to. You’ve got a veteran quarterback, someone who can push the ball down the field. He looked at that, at the success of the receivers at LSU. He’s an explosive player and I think it was pretty easy this was going to be a great fit for him,” Kelly said on Monday.

Michael Van Buren… Mississippi State transfer quarterback Michael Van Buren went public with a decision to transfer to the LSU Tigers on Sunday after one season in Starkville. After starting as a true freshman for the Bulldogs, he heads to Baton Rouge for the 2025 season.

Van Buren provides LSU with a backup quarterback that has SEC experience. In 10 appearances as a true freshman in 2024, Van Buren completed 140-of-256 passes for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns. He added another five rushing TDs for the Bulldogs.