LSU Football: Tigers Add Former Auburn Safety Via Transfer Portal
The Bayou Bengals secure a defensive back in the free agency market, three years of eligibility remaining.
Auburn defensive back Austin Ausberry committed to LSU on Tuesday, he announced on social media. The Baton Rouge native will have three years of eligibility remaining.
The former four-star defensive back out of U-High (Baton Rouge, La.) is one of the top commits in Auburn’s 2022 recruiting class.
After redshirting in his freshman campaign, Ausberry took just 35 snaps during the 2023 season. In four games, he made just one tackle.
Now, with a fresh start back home, Ausberry aims to make an impact for the Tigers after following the pattern of Louisiana natives to make their return to the Bayou State.
The Louisiana Haul:
WR Zavion Thomas – Mississippi State
A proven return specialist with elite-level hands presents the Tigers with a monstrous weapon ahead of the 2024 season.
After two years in Starkville, Thomas was ready for a change of scenery, deciding to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Now, the Louisiana native is a Tiger after this program showed immediate attention to the outstanding wideout and return specialist.
Thomas is a player we expected the Tigers to handle sooner rather than later. Despite being a hot commodity in the portal, LSU placed a full court push on him with an unofficial visit going place on Monday.
After a 2023 season where he accumulated 503 yards on 40 receptions, Thomas will be a major piece to what LSU builds next season. Keep tabs on the Louisiana native as both a coveted wideout for this program as well as return specialist.
Safety Jardin Gilbert – Texas A&M
Another Louisiana native, the former U-High standout comes home to suit up in the purple and gold with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
A 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, Gilbert attains the size this program is aiming for as they push for additional defensive backs via the portal.
In 2023, Gilbert opened the season as a starter at Texas A&M, but had his junior campaign cut short after suffering a shoulder injury after just two games. In two games played, he collected five tackles, a pass breakup and was in on a tackle for loss.
After 23 games in College Station, the valued safety was prepared for a change of scenery as well with the LSU Tigers making the call.
Now, the Louisiana native returns home with the chance to represent the Bayou Bengals to close off his college career.
It’s no secret this program is in need of aid in the secondary and the Transfer Portal window will be a time to add troops.
