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LSU football will have new faces at defensive end when spring practice begins next month.
Bradyn Swinson and Sai’Vion Jones are off to the NFL after getting the bulk of the work in 2024. Swinson and Jones combined to play 1,274 snaps. Together, they racked up over 100 pressures and 14 sacks, per PFF.
There wasn’t much of a rotation at the position. After Swinson and Jones, the defensive end with the most action was true freshman Gabe Reliford and his 153 snaps.
Making depth worse, Da’Shawn Womack transferred to Ole Miss. Womack only played 100 snaps in 2024, but he’s a former five-star recruit and would have seen the field more in 2025. LSU doesn’t consider Womack a huge loss as he failed to establish a consistent role over his two years in Baton Rouge.
LSU made defensive end a priority in the transfer portal. The Tigers signed former Florida State DE Patrick Payton, along with former Florida DE Jack Pyburn and former Nebraska DE Jimari Butler.
All three transfers, along with Reliford, will compete for a starting spot. Here’s a look at who will get the starting nod in 2025.
Patrick Payton looks prime for a starting role
Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Patrick Payton (11) defends Louisville Cardinals running back Jawhar Jordan (25) during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
FSU transfer Patrick Payton has the best combination of talent and experience in the room. According to 247Sports, he was the No. 6 ranked transfer portal prospect in the class.
Payton was a key member of Florida State’s elite defense in 2023. As a junior, he ranked ninth among ACC edge defenders with 44 pressures. In four years with the Noles, Payton totaled 90 pressures and 14 sacks, according to PFF. Payton’s production took a step back in 2024, but so did the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-football-start-defensive-end-161032554.html
Author : LSU Tigers Wire
Publish date : 2025-02-18 16:10:00
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