LSU football has been actively seeking transfer defensive linemen to bolster their roster, and they have secured their first addition of the offseason with former Wisconsin defensive end Gio Paez.
Paez announced his commitment via social media on Tuesday, bringing with him one more season of eligibility after a five-year tenure at Wisconsin. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 310 pounds, Paez has appeared in 33 career games for the Badgers. Despite his previous position, LSU intends to utilize him as a defensive tackle.
During the previous season, Paez participated in 13 games, including the ReliaQuest Bowl against LSU, where he made six starts. His contributions amounted to 23 tackles and two quarterback hurries. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 36 tackles and one tackle for loss.
With senior Jordan Jefferson, junior Mekhi Wingo, and redshirt sophomore Maason Smith departing, LSU found themselves in need of defensive tackles. Additionally, three backup players transferred out. In light of retention efforts falling short, offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole shifted positions prior to spring practice.
Paez’s addition brings LSU’s scholarship count for defensive tackles to seven. He will be part of a group that includes redshirt seniors Jacobian Guillory and Jalen Lee, junior college transfer Shone Washington, early enrollee De’Myrion Johnson, freshman Dominick McKinley, and Kimo Makane’ole. McKinley, a highly touted five-star recruit, is set to join the team this summer.
During the first half of spring practice, Guillory and Lee have consistently featured on the first-team defense. Washington and walk-on Preston Hickey, a former Oklahoma State transfer, have seen action on the second-team defense. Makane’ole and Johnson have been part of the third-team unit.
LSU is anticipated to pursue additional transfer defensive linemen this spring. One such target is Indiana transfer Philip Blidi, to whom the program recently extended a scholarship offer. Blidi, who initially started his collegiate career at Texas Tech, recorded 30 tackles and four tackles for loss in 11 starts last season at Indiana.
