LSU’s rebuilding of its cornerback position continued with the addition of another key pillar.
The Tigers, who lost starting corners Jarrick Bernard-Converse and Mekhi Garner from the 2022 team, added its third cornerback from the NCAA transfer portal with a commitment from Syracuse sophomore Darian ‘Duce’ Chestnut, who announced the decision on his Twitter page.
The 6-0, 198-pound Chestnut, a first team freshman All-America selection in 2021, made an official visit to LSU over the weekend and decided on the Tigers. He is the No. 61 rated prospect in the transfer portal according to 247Sports.com.
LSU has either signed or gotten commitments from 33 new players that will be a part of the team for the 2023 season.
LSU earlier addressed the position in December with the signing of three high school seniors in Javien Toviano of Arlington, Texas, Jeremiah Hughes of Las Vegas, Nevada and Ashton Stamps of Archbishop Rummel in New Orleans.
The Tigers added experienced help a week later with the signings of former five-star cornerback Denver Harris, a redshirt freshman from Texas A&M and former FCS All-America choice Zy Alexander, a sophomore from Southeastern Louisiana.
Chestnut, a native of Camden, New Jersey, will have two years of eligibility after making 83 tackles with three tackles for loss, four interceptions and 13 passes defensed in two seasons for Syracuse. He became the first freshman defensive back to start for the Orange in the last 40 years.
Chestnut registered 40 tackles, had six passes defensed and an interception during the 2022 season that resulted in a 7-6 record after a loss to Minnesota in the Pinstripe Bowl.
He earned first team freshman All-America laurels from four media outlets when he put together a 40-tackle season in ’21 that included three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Chestnut was the runner-up in the voting of the ACC Rookie of the Year and was selected to that league’s postseason third team.
The four-star recruit from Camden High, a three-sport standout that also included basketball and track, was a two-time All-New Jersey selection and two-time team captain in football.
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