Never change, Lane. Never change... Actually, some change could do him some world of good. This has nothing to do with switching Magnolia Bowl allegiances, but that is a discussion for another time. What is important to know is Lane Kiffin is all about that transfer portal action. It was a huge part of his recruiting game plan while at Ole Miss. One would expect that he will use it again now leading LSU.
Perhaps the biggest reason why Kiffin left Ole Miss ahead of their first trip to the College Football Playoff for a shot in the dark to turn around LSU has everything to do with this: He doubted Ole Miss' ability to win a national championship, while we have seen Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron all win national titles at LSU in the 21st century. This could blow up in Kiffin's face spectacularly, though.
So what we are going to do today is take a look at a handful of players on Kirby Smart's Georgia roster who could potentially hit the transfer portal in a few weeks and go play for Kiffin in Baton Rouge. To date, the only known player to enter the transfer portal from Georgia is cornerback Daniel Harris. He could go anywhere he pleases, but everyone else on this list is purely speculative at this point in time.
Including Harris, here are a few Georgia players who could conceivably transfer to LSU this offseason.
5. Running back Dwight Phillips Jr.
As it is with most of these, it would be a shot in the dark for Dwight Phillips Jr. to transfer from Georgia after his true sophomore season. He has gotten some run out of the Bulldogs' backfield. However, he is buried on the depth chart behind two players who are effectively in the same class as him in fellow sophomore Nate Frazier and redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens. Could Phillips be on the way out?
Well, he hails from Georgia, something native Floridian Bowens and native Californian Frazier do not. have going for them. While this will be the last season for both Cash Jones and Josh McCray in Athens, there might not be enough room in the backfield for Georgia to keep everyone it wants for another year. Phillips could be poached, but it seems like he may want to see what next year brings.
Keep an eye on Kiffin potentially looking to add a running back from another team in the SEC soon.
4. Quarterback Ryan Puglisi
Ryan Puglisi's name being on here is just to play out the field a bit. Georgia's backup quarterback could return to Athens for another season, but he would once again be relegated to being behind Gunner Stockton for as long as he has some collegiate eligibility. Given that Puglisi can really spin it and does not hail from Georgia originally, he could be had by a former quarterback himself in Kiffin.
Truth be told, Kiffin may want to bring either Trinidad Chambliss or Austin Simmons with him from Oxford to Baton Rouge, but he will not be able to land both. With Garrett Nussmeier turning pro, does Kiffin really want to roll the dice with Michael Van Buren Jr. under center? He might because he is him. That being said, Puglisi is a guy who could be moving, especially with Georgia possibly being active...
Puglisi entering the portal could be contingent on if Jared Curtis stays true to his UGA commitment.
3. Wide receiver CJ Wiley
For the most part, the most logical connections to Kiffin and LSU would have to be players that either Kiffin recruited to Ole Miss or have ties to Louisiana. Although wide receiver CJ Wiley played his high school football in-state at Milton, Baton Rouge is listed as his hometown on the Georgia official roster page. Kiffin loves to throw the ball. Maybe the talented true freshman decides to go play for him now?
Wiley is listed behind on senior transfer Noah Thomas on the depth chart at the X-receiver position. Thomas has started to come on of late, but he may soon be out of eligibility. Georgia likes to spread the football around to its plethora of wide receivers, tight ends and backs. Is there enough love to go around? Wiley may be on the fast track to starting next year, but Georgia is still vulnerable at receiver.
As it is with Dwight Phillips Jr., Wiley likely stays, but there is a non-zero chance that he might leave.
2. Quarterback Ryan Montgomery
With Ryan Puglisi already being listed, one would think his backup in third-stringer Ryan Montgomery may be a candidate to transfer away from this offseason. This has everything to do with Gunner Stockton returning for one more season, as well as potentially Jared Curtis enrolling in January. Another five-star quarterback recruit in Jayden Wade could be coming down the line as well in 2028.
Montgomery is the younger brother of Ohio State offensive lineman Luke Montgomery, so a return home could be in play. Not to say that he would beat out Van Buren or whomever else Kiffin decides to bring along with him to LSU, but the chances of Montgomery actually playing meaningful snaps at Georgia seem to have passed him by. Puglisi could get his day in the sun, but not both of them here...
This is more about the prospects of Montgomery transferring, as opposed to it really being to LSU.
1. Cornerback Daniel Harris
The only player who has decided to enter the transfer portal so far from the 2025 Georgia Bulldogs is cornerback Daniel Harris. He has started periodically over the last few years at Georgia, but has been unable to fully grasp a starting role. For that reason, he may want to go play for what was once known as DB U over in Baton Rouge. Blake Baker is expected to be stick with Kiffin as defensive coordinator.
As it is the case with most other teams constantly looking up at Georgia in the SEC standings, they will want a slice of what makes them so good. In most offseasons, it is defensive prowess. While Glenn Schumann's defense has been up and down all season long, Kirby Smart is a savvy former defensive back. This is a unit that is well-coached, and one that Kiffin may want to take advantage of.
Until we see other Georgia players enter the transfer portal, Harris has to be the best bet to flip here.