LSU roster updates: Laya, Starzyk, Delane and pitching gap

LSU roster updates arrive as fall camp approaches, bringing position upgrades, a reliable kicker and more depth in the pitching room — but the staff still appears intent on adding one experienced starter. Below: a transfers roundup, an extended look at the pitching picture, profiles of Scott Starzyk and Faheem Delane, and a final countdown that ties these moves to the Sept. 5 opener against Clemson.

LSU roster updates: who arrived and quick take

LSU’s portal work over the summer added several players expected to contribute early. Angel Laya (Oregon) provides outfield athleticism and lineup options (Source: Dandy Don).

The Tigers also added Landon Hood (Gonzaga) and bolstered the pitching corps with right-handers Kaden Smith (South Florida) and Diego Velazquez (USC) — depth moves that improve competition in camp (Source: Dandy Don).

On paper, these additions tighten the position groups and offer more lineup flexibility. Laya’s arrival in particular gives LSU another athletic outfield option who can slot into late-game defensive alignments or rotate into the lineup against certain pitching matchups (analysis based on roster fit; Source: Dandy Don).

Pitching picture and the remaining need

The big remaining storyline is pitching. Despite adding right-handed arms, LSU’s staff still appears to want another experienced starter — ideally a left hander to balance the rotation (Source: Dandy Don).

Right-handers like Smith and Velazquez add depth for midweek and bullpen-to-starter competition, but a proven mid-rotation arm would reduce short-term risk and smooth the path to early-season wins (author evaluation; Source: Dandy Don).

Targets can evaporate quickly in the portal: names floated in chatter have landed elsewhere, underscoring urgency for LSU’s staff to act. If the Tigers don’t land a veteran starter, expect a plan built around internal competition, controlled innings for newly added arms and a heavier early reliance on relief depth (analysis; Source: Dandy Don).

Kicker profile: Scott Starzyk

Scott Starzyk joins LSU after a true freshman season at Arkansas in which he made 14 of 18 field goals and was perfect inside 40 yards (9-for-9) (Source: Dandy Don).

Starzyk also converted all 47 extra points and finished the year with 89 points, including a 53-yard long. Those marks make him an immediate candidate to handle kicking duties in Baton Rouge (Source: Dandy Don).

From a game-planning perspective, a consistent kicker changes late-game decisions. If Starzyk repeats his freshman form, LSU’s coaches can be more aggressive on fourth down in close games and trust range on long attempts — and that has direct implications for how offensive drives are managed early in the season (author evaluation; Source: Dandy Don).

Safety add: Faheem Delane at LSU

Faheem Delane arrives after spending time at Ohio State; he’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds and was a top-75 national recruit in 2025 (Source: Dandy Don).

Delane played in 13 games as a true freshman and recorded 12 tackles before entering the portal; he brings three years of eligibility to LSU and the physical profile the staff covets in the secondary (Source: Dandy Don).

Given LSU’s depth in the defensive backfield, Delane projects as a rotational piece early who could grow into larger roles in sub-packages and on special teams. His size and recruiting pedigree make him a realistic candidate to contribute in tackling and coverage situations that demand length and range (author analysis; Source: Dandy Don).

Countdown to kickoff, sources and key takeaways

All of these moves are measured against the season opener — Lane Kiffin vs Clemson on Sept. 5 — where readiness matters most (Source: Dandy Don).

Players who can play from Day 1 (kickers, certain position players) are especially valuable because they reduce early-season uncertainty. Starzyk’s immediate availability at kicker and position players like Angel Laya who can step into rotation roles are the types of additions designed to produce instant impact (author evaluation; Source: Dandy Don).

Conversely, the absence of a veteran, left-handed starter still on the roster is the single biggest factor that could alter LSU’s early pitching strategy. If that arm arrives, it changes the rotation mix and reduces pressure on the bullpen in September; if not, expect conservative inning counts, matchups-based starts and earlier bullpen usage in the opener and initial weeks (analysis; Source: Dandy Don).

Source: Dandy Don’s LSU roundup — original coverage at https://www.dandydon.com/2026-07-05/ (Source: Dandy Don).

Key takeaways:

• Position upgrades arrived via the portal (Angel Laya, Landon Hood) and should help depth and lineup flexibility (Source: Dandy Don).
• Scott Starzyk is a proven freshman kicker (14-for-18 FG, perfect inside 40 yards) who could be a Day 1 solution (Source: Dandy Don).
• Faheem Delane adds size at safety with three years of eligibility and immediate special teams upside (Source: Dandy Don).
• Author evaluation: LSU still needs another experienced starter — preferably a left hander — to solidify the rotation before the Sept. 5 opener vs. Clemson (Source: Dandy Don).

Final note: these roster moves narrow question marks in several spots, but the pitching chase remains the story to watch as Lane Kiffin’s Tigers prepare for Clemson on Sept. 5.