Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers continue turning up the heat for several targets via the NCAA Transfer Portal with a number of priority transfers making their way to Baton Rouge this week.

Kelly and Co. have filled positions of need through the portal to this point with 10 additions, but the program isn’t finished when it comes to bringing in newcomers.

This week, LSU hosted South Florida safety Tawfiq Byard for an official visit to campus where he had the chance to meet face-to-face with several coaches, check out campus and take in an LSU practice as they prepare for a bowl matchup against the Baylor Bears.

Byard burst on the scene in 2024 after tallying 54 tackles with a pair of sacks and an interception this fall.

Now, he’s taken in multi-day stay with LSU.

“Going to LSU was definitely a big deal for me,” Byard told LSU Tigers On SI. “One of my favorite safeties is [former LSU great] Grant Delpit so being able to have the ability to play for the same school and have a chance to play in front of their fans was definitely a good feeling.”

LSU brought Byard to town on Monday where he spent a full day with the program. Fast forward to Tuesday and the visit continued going in a positive direction with a bowl practice setting.

The impressive defensive back has multiple schools on his radar during the Transfer Portal process. Byard visited Virginia Tech prior to his trip to LSU. Following a visit to LSU he then hit the road to Nashville to see what the Vanderbilt Commodores had to offer.

Now, with visits to Virginia Tech, LSU and Vanderbilt in the rearview mirror, Byard tells LSU Tigers On SI that he has one visit remaining on the schedule with Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffs. He will arrive in Boulder on Friday.

From there, he will mull over options with his camp and lock in on making a decision in the coming days.

“After Colorado I’ll probably take a few days to weigh out my options,” Byard said. “I’ll really think about the best fit for me. I’ll have a decision by New Years for sure.”

LSU remains in pursuit of help at the safety position. After reeling in commitments from a pair of cornerbacks in Mansoor Delane, the No. 2 rated corner available, and Ja’Keem Jackson (No. 8 CB), there remains a need for bodies in the safety room.

LSU has landed commitments from 10 transfers to this point while seeing 17 members of the 2024 roster depart Baton Rouge.

– Rickie Collins: Quarterback
– Landon Ibieta: Wide Receiver
– CJ Daniels: Wide Receiver
– Dashawn Womack: EDGE
– Jordan Allen: Safety
– Shelton Sampson: Wide Receiver
– Kylin Jackson: Defensive Back
– Xavier Atkins: Linebacker
– Jyaire Brown: Cornerback
– Bernard Causey: Cornerback
– Nathan Dibert: Kicker
– De’Myrion Johnson: Defensive Tackle
– Jk Johnson: Cornerback
– Ka’Morreun Pimpton: Tight End
– Jay’viar Suggs: Defensive Tackle
– Sage Ryan: Defensive Back
– AJ Swann: Quarterback

Who have the Tigers gained commitments from?

The Additions on Offense (5):
– TE Bauer Sharp: Oklahoma
– WR Barion Brown: Kentucky
– QB Michael Van Buren: Mississippi State
– WR Destyn Hill: Florida State
– WR Nic Anderson: Oklahoma

The Additions on Defense (4):
– CB Ja’Keem Jackson: Florida
– EDGE Jimari Butler: Nebraska
– EDGE Jack Pyburn: Florida
– CB Mansoor Delane: Virginia Tech

The Special Teams Additons (1):
Punter Grant Chadwick: Middle Tennessee

The LSU Transfer Portal Update: Who’s in? Who’s out?

LSU Dishes Out Offer to No. 1 Quarterback in America

Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a “Sleeper” Ahead of 2024 Season

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.