We have a new gold medalist for “most impactful player from LSU to enter the transfer portal.”
Wednesday evening it was reported by Matt Zenitz that sophomore safety Dashawn Spears intends to enter the
transfer portal. I say this every time a player in any sport puts their name into the portal: they can always withdraw their name if they so choose.
Spears had a pseudo-breakout sophomore season. Despite sharing time with AJ Haulcy and Tamarcus Cooley, Spears played a ton in LSU’s dime packages and actually ended up being the Tigers’ second-highest graded player per PFF. This season Spears had 28 tackles, a sack, and intercepted DJ Lagway twice (including a pick-six) in LSU’s win over Florida. In two seasons, Spears has appeared in 26 games with four starts.
This one stings (pun intended as he’s a Denham Springs High Yellow Jacket) because Spears almost certainly would have been a starting safety in 2026 now that AJ Haulcy has declared for the draft. It’s also surprising Spears is intending to transfer as the entire LSU defensive staff sans Kyle Williams is returning. With Ahmad Breaux entering the portal you could understand it considering he’d be getting his third different position coach in as many years, Spears, however, would have had Corey Raymond and Jake Olsen heading into his junior season.
Maybe this is a leverage play. In this new college football world, maybe Spears was looking for a bigger payday than Lane Kiffin and Billy Glasscock were willing to give. Whatever the case, this is a big time departure, and I fear that whoever LSU does add to replace Spears it will be a downgrade.
