LSU football was forced to revamp its defensive end room in the transfer portal. With Bradyn Swinson and Sai’Vion Jones off to the NFL and DaShawn Womack transferring to Ole Miss, LSU is losing a lot of production on the edge.
Brian Kelly signed a haul of portal defensive ends, including former Florida defender Jack Pyburn. According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Pyburn was the No. 18 ranked defensive end in the class and No. 134 ranked transfer overall.
He brings 500 snaps of SEC experience to LSU’s defense. He notched two sacks and 13 stops with the Gators in 2024. Pyburn’s PFF run defense grade of 78.9 ranked top-15 among SEC defensive ends.
What impact should LSU fans expect from Pyburn in Baton Rouge?
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker wasn’t shy about praising Pyburn when Baker met with the media.
“I think he’s an underrated pass rusher. I really do. When you go back and watch the tape, he’s slippery in pass rush. He’s got some quick twitch,” Baker said.
With only eight pressures on the year, Pyburn’s pass rush numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, but he totaled three pressures and a sack in his final game with the Gators. Pyburn’s 89.4 PFF pass-rush grade vs. Florida State was the best mark of his career.
Pyburn’s physicality against the run should elevate LSU’s rush defense, too. But Baker said what Pyburn brings from an intangible standpoint is as important as what he’ll do on the field.
“As talented as some guys are, we got to make sure that they fit culturally for what we do. And he checked every box and he’s brought so much leadership to this defense,” Baker said.
“And it was instant, like his personality, it didn’t take him a day, you know, to start speaking up and guys listen to him because of how hard he works. And when you work that hard, you know, you’ve earned the right to talk. So he’s been, again,…
Source link : https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/lsu/football/2025/04/05/lsu-football-transfer-portal-florida-gators-jack-pyburn/82874602007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-04-05 13:56:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
