Evaluating how Louisiana football has fared in the transfer portal in 2023
The window for the transfer portal has closed and won't reopen until May.
Players who are on campus for Louisiana football will be the roster for spring practice, which will open sometime in March. Coach Michael Desormeaux and the Ragin' Cajuns, following a disappointing 6-7 season that ended with an Independence Bowl loss to Houston, weren't terribly active in the transfer portal this cycle.
They added one FBS transfer, deciding rather to sign a large number of players during the early period in December.
UL also didn't get hit hard with departures, losing just four players since the conclusion of the season to the portal.
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Let's break down how each side of the ball for Louisiana will be affected by the transfer portal.
Offense: downgrade
The Cajuns' offense was largely impacted by early NFL Draft declarations from star receiver Michael Jefferson and running back Chris Smith.
But four offensive players did transfer. And the receiver position was hurt the most with Dontae Fleming (Tulane) and Errol Rogers Jr. (Liberty) leaving. Fleming had a knack for finding the end zone for UL with three touchdown, tied for second-most on the team.
Louisiana shouldn't be too concerned about volume, however. Rogers and Fleming caught 39 passes for 377 yards combined.
Where the Ragin' Cajuns were hurt the most was at quarterback, where depth took a hit. Backups Hunter Herring (Louisiana-Monroe) and Zy McDonald (Jackson State) both transferred. But neither played much last season.
Defense: to be determined
Trey Fite, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound edge rusher from SMU, was recruited by UL during the 2022 cycle. The Tatum, Texas, native opted to sign with the Mustangs but was redshirted last year.
He was a three-star prospect according to the 247Sports Composite coming out of high school.
The addition comes at a position of need for the Cajuns, who lost Andre Jones to the NFL Draft. There are obvious questions surrounding Fite and exactly what his initial impact could be for UL as he didn't play for SMU in 2022.
If there's room, or if more movement happens when the transfer portal reopens after spring drills, UL likely will pursue the defense first for potential transfers. More quality depth is needed along the defensive line and at linebacker.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How Louisiana football has fared in the transfer portal in 2023
