Brian Kelly has been making major moves in the college football transfer portal, loading LSU’s roster with elite talent as if he’s working with cheat codes. From grabbing lightning-fast players from the SEC to powerful pass rushers and standout defensive backs, Kelly has turned the portal into his playground. LSU now boasts the No. 1-ranked transfer class according to 247Sports, with 17 new winter additions—essentially an NFL-style roster upgrade.
Among the big names, Kelly landed Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson and Kentucky’s speedster Barion Brown. On defense, he snatched edge rusher Jack Pyburn from Florida and defensive standout Patrick Payton II from Florida State. Now, Kelly’s eyes are on one final piece: AJ Haulcy, a standout safety from Houston.
Haulcy is far from a typical player. Last season, he recorded 74 tackles and tied for the Big 12 lead with five interceptions. His Pro Football Focus coverage grade was 85.8—ranking fourth among all safeties in the conference. Over two seasons, he’s accumulated 172 tackles, 15 pass deflections, and five picks. His consistency and impact are exactly what LSU’s secondary needs.
However, LSU faces serious competition from Miami. Haulcy visited the Hurricanes on Monday, and there’s a twist—Miami’s corners coach Zack Ethridge used to coach Haulcy at Houston. That existing bond could sway the safety’s decision. Ole Miss was previously in the mix, but they’ve shifted focus after picking up a different safety, making this a head-to-head battle between LSU and Miami.
According to recent statements from Shea Dixon on a podcast, LSU is now fully focused on recruiting Haulcy. While Kelly is happy with the current roster, the staff recognizes that Haulcy could elevate the secondary to elite status. Dixon noted that even though LSU likes their young safeties like Dashawn Spears, adding Haulcy would bring immediate veteran leadership and high-level play.
Yet, Dixon also pointed out that Miami might have the upper hand, given Ethridge’s connection. Still, LSU has reportedly re-engaged with Haulcy and believes they still have a shot. It’s a close race.
Haulcy would immediately become LSU’s most experienced and productive defensive back. His presence would allow others like Cooley and Gilbert to thrive, making the unit stronger overall. With the Tigers having lost key players in the secondary, Haulcy represents not just a talent boost, but a return to the dominant LSU defensive identity of the past.
Though Kelly publicly maintains that he’s satisfied with the current roster, behind the scenes, he understands that Haulcy could be the final move to transform LSU from a strong contender into a championship-caliber team. The battle between LSU and Miami for Haulcy isn’t just about one player—it’s symbolic of the new-age college football arms race driven by the transfer portal.
Whoever wins this recruitment battle won’t just gain a top-tier safety—they’ll land a difference-maker who could tilt the balance of power heading into the new season.