Brian Kelly promised that LSU football would be aggressive in the transfer portal, but few could have imagined it looking like this.
With less than a week before the portal window closes for entries, LSU has landed 13 commitments. The Tigers have the No. 2 portal class in the nation, per 247Sports, and seven players rank in the top 80 of 247Sports' transfer rankings.
Much of LSU's aggressiveness stems from Kelly's recent push to raise more NIL money. In the wake of the Tigers losing two major recruiting commitments before signing day, including five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, Kelly called on LSU fans and donors for more help with NIL efforts.
Kelly later announced on Dec. 13 that he'd match donations, up to $1 million, with a donation of his own to the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
"I think it really sent a message to everybody that this is where we are today," Kelly said, "and if we want to be where we all want to be in terms of putting our roster together, we all have to step up and it started with me."
On Saturday, Kelly said LSU's effort to spread the word has worked. Major donors have contributed more, but the Tigers also have garnered more support from grassroots donors than ever before.
Better players are coming to Baton Rouge as a result.
"The response has been what we were hoping for," Kelly said. "... Whether it's been $5, $50 or $500, we're seeing those kinds of contributions that we hadn't seen in the past.
"It's put us in a position where we can be aggressive on anybody that comes into the portal, and that simply wasn't the case before."
The Tigers haven't just been spending money at will this offseason. They've targeted positions of need, including wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and tight end.
That tailored approach continued Saturday with LSU adding Florida State edge rusher Patrick Payton and Virginia Tech offensive lineman Braelin Moore. Both veterans are multiyear starters and top-55 players in the portal.
"The timing wasn't right. We needed to do a little bit of work just to compete in the SEC, which we did," Kelly said. "But now it's time to roster build."
Even after adding more than a dozen players, Kelly said the Tigers aren't done. He suspects that LSU will bring in roughly 15 players from the portal when it's all said and done.
He noted that the offensive line and "back end" of the defense were still positions of need. Moore was the first offensive lineman LSU has added from the portal despite the team losing four starters from this year's starting line. The Tigers also haven't brought in a safety, even with starters Sage Ryan and Major Burns not returning next season.
"We've got a great young nucleus in our football program," Kelly said. "Foundation is solid, and the timing is right for us now to add to that."