Superstar ex-Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane officially signs with LSU football

The LSU football transfer portal class of 2025 may have just landed their top defensive addition of the offseason, as superstar Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane has officially signed his papers with the Tigers of Baton Rouge.

LSU football lands elite Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane out of the transfer portal

In just one full calendar year, it has become abundantly clear what LSU secondary coach Corey Raymond is looking to do now that he’s returned to the purple and gold. He’s bringing DBU back.

Entering the 2024 season, the Tigers were coming off one of their worst defensive seasons in recent memory, ranking No. 118 in passing yards allowed per game (255.6), No. 89 in passing touchdowns allowed per game (1.8) and No. 107 in allowed completion percentage (63.8).

In turn, it was only natural that it was going to take some time to turn things around, and if nothing else, coach Raymond has at the very least put the pieces in place for a rebuild.

Getting things started by landing the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2025, to go along with the top-two defensive backs in Louisiana, recruiting was already beginning to take shape. Now, it was just a matter of making some magic in the transfer portal, and as we find ourselves multiple weeks into the December period, magic is exactly what LSU has received.

Already possessing a pledge from former Florida cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson, Brian Kelly and his coaching staff have officially struck gold, as former Virginia Tech superstar cornerback Mansoor Delane has officially signed with the Tiger football program.

pic.twitter.com/hGRWz4H6Ut

— Mansoor Delane (@mansoordelane) December 17, 2024

Standing at 6-foot-1, 187 pounds, Delane, a product out of Silver Spring, MD, has notably already received NFL interest, and easily could have made the jump as early as this offseason. However, after recording a career total of 146 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, 22 passes defended and six interceptions in his three seasons facing off against ACC caliber teams, he’s elected for one season of SEC football before he makes the final jump to the highest level in the sport.

With him having officially made the decision to sign with LSU and not declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s largely expected that he’ll earn at least one of the starting spots in the purple and gold secondary. If anything, it’s just a matter of who will be lining up on the other side of the field, as transfer addition Ja’Keem Jackson, true junior Ashton Stamps, true sophomore PJ Woodland and incoming freshman DJ Pickett all have the potential to make an impact if given the opportunity in 2025.

The purple and gold transfer portal class of 2025 is officially up to No. 3 nationally, as well as No. 2 in the SEC, with 11 total commitments. While Delane is without a doubt one of the biggest names in the group, it’s worth noting that the wide majority of the signings are good enough to see the field as early as this coming season, and at the very least will be competing for snaps from the moment they step foot on campus.

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