Nebraska EDGE Jimari Butler becomes fourth LSU transfer commit in last 48 hours

After facing 16 straight losses to start the December transfer portal period, LSU football has now seen four commitments in the last two days, most recently gaining a pledge from former Nebraska edge rusher Jimari Butler.

Star Nebraska edge rusher Jimari Butler becomes first non-SEC LSU transfer portal commitment

When it rains, it pours, and for LSU football, they’ve officially found themselves at the end of the rainbow.

Did that make any sense? Maybe, maybe not, but at the end of the day, coach Brian Kelly has made adjustments in his transfer portal efforts, and thus far, it appears to be paying off in a major way for his 2025 roster.

The Tigers began the December transfer portal period with as little momentum as you could imagine. Immediately losing 16 players – several of which were important depth pieces – things weren’t looking good for Brian Kelly and his program.

Still, there wasn’t necessarily much panic involved. Instead, Kelly took the time to explain that most of the losses were expected, and there was an aura of confidence coming from the 30+ year head coach.

Just a few days later, and that confidence appears to have been well-founded. In the last 48 hours, LSU football has found itself surging, and most recently landed its fourth transfer portal commitment of the offseason, as former Nebraska edge rusher Jimari Butler will now make his way south to play for the purple and gold.

🤞🏾let’s do it https://t.co/NosbcxLP6l

— 1 0 (@ButlerJimari) December 15, 2024

Officially listed as a 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher out of Mobile, AL, it took the now 6th-year veteran some time to get his feet under him at the collegiate level. Rated as a three-star recruit, and the No. 65 defensive end in the class of 2020, according to 247Sports, Butler didn’t get his first career start until his true senior season back in 2023.

From there, the soon-to-be Tiger absolutely took off. Recording 56 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended over the last two years combined, he’s slowly turned himself into a true game changer at the Power Four level.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Jimari Butler can be expected to come in and immediately compete for starting snaps. He’ll join an LSU football transfer portal class of 2025 that now boasts four total commitments, including former Oklahoma tight end Bauer Sharp, former Florida cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson and former Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown.

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