Unexpected deal: LSU signs new defensive lineman.
LSU football has been in the market for transfer defensive lineman to strengthen a depleted position, and it added the first one of the offseason in former Wisconsin defensive end Gio Paez.
Paez announced his commitment Tuesday in a social media post. He has one more season of eligibility after playing for five years at Wisconsin. Paez, who’s 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, appeared in 33 career games for the Badgers. LSU sees him as a defensive tackle.
Last year, Paez played in 13 games, including the ReliaQuest Bowl against LSU. He made six starts. Paez finished the season with 23 tackles and two quarterback hurries. He has 36 tackles and one tackle for loss during his career.
LSU needs defensive tackles after the departures of senior Jordan Jefferson, junior Mekhi Wingo and redshirt sophomore Maason Smith. Three backups also transferred. After retention did not pan out, offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole changed positions before spring practice.
Paez gives LSU seven scholarship defensive tackles. He will join a room with redshirt senior Jacobian Guillory, redshirt senior Jalen Lee, junior college transfer Shone Washington, early enrollee De’Myrion Johnson, freshman Dominick McKinley and Makane’ole. McKinley, a five-star recruit, enrolls this summer.
Halfway through spring practice, Guillory and Lee have consistently played on the first-team defense. Washington and walk-on Preston Hickey, a one-time Oklahoma State transfer, have been on the second-team defense. Makane’ole and Johnson are on the third team.
LSU is expected to pursue multiple transfer defensive linemen this spring. It recently offered a scholarship to Indiana transfer Philip Blidi. Blidi, who began his career at Texas Tech, made 11 starts last season. He finished with 30 tackles and four tackles for loss in his one year at Indiana.
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