LSU football has been actively seeking transfer defensive linemen to fortify a weakened position, and they secured their first addition of the offseason with Gio Paez, formerly of Wisconsin, announcing his commitment via social media on Tuesday. Paez, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 310 pounds, brings with him one remaining season of eligibility after spending five years at Wisconsin, primarily as a defensive end. However, LSU plans to utilize him as a defensive tackle. Throughout his career at Wisconsin, Paez appeared in 33 games, including 13 last season, where he recorded 23 tackles and two quarterback hurries. His career totals include 36 tackles and one tackle for loss.
The addition of Paez comes at a crucial time for LSU, which faced departures in the defensive tackle department, including notable players like Jordan Jefferson, Mekhi Wingo, and Maason Smith, along with three backup transfers. Kimo Makane’ole, initially an offensive lineman, transitioned to the defensive side before spring practice. Paez’s inclusion boosts LSU’s roster to seven scholarship defensive tackles, complementing players like Jacobian Guillory, Jalen Lee, Shone Washington, De’Myrion Johnson, Dominick McKinley, and Makane’ole.
In the ongoing spring practice sessions, Guillory and Lee have consistently featured on the first-team defense, while Washington and Preston Hickey, a transfer from Oklahoma State, have been prominent on the second-team defense. Makane’ole and Johnson currently find themselves on the third team. Looking ahead, LSU aims to recruit additional transfer defensive linemen, with Indiana’s Philip Blidi being a recent scholarship offer recipient. Blidi, who began his collegiate career at Texas Tech, started 11 games last season for Indiana, tallying 30 tackles and four tackles for loss.
