RED STICK – ohio state cornerback JK Johnson and Syracuse cornerback Darian Chestnut were traded to LSU socceraccording to Johnson and Chestnut’s Twitter biography on Twitter.
Johnson, a redshirt freshman, started in five games for the Buckeyes last season and played in all 13 games, giving up just 12 receptions and making 19 tackles according to Pro Football Focus. He played two games as a rookie in 2021.
Chestnut was a freshman All-American in 2021, according to ESPN, PFF, 247Sports and the Football Writers Association of America. He followed that up with a strong campaign in 2022, giving up less than 50 receiving yards in all but two games.
“Tiger fans what’s up!” Chestnut wrote.
A St. Louis native and former star of Jesuit De Smet High School, Johnson has many ties to LSU. His high school coach was LSU cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples, and he was a teammate with Mekhi Wingo. He also played with Sevyn Banks for one season at Ohio State. Chestnut, on the other hand, hails from New Jersey.
Johnson and Chestnut provide the depth and experience needed in LSU’s young cornerback room. Prior to their arrival, the Tigers were expected to have only five Power 5 starting experience games in the position group entering the 2023 season, based on Banks’ status for this upcoming campaign.
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Johnson and Chestnut are the third and fourth cornerbacks LSU has added from the transfer portal, joining Southeast transfer Zy Alexander and Texas A&M transfer Denver Harris. The Tigers also signed four-star top-60 prospect Javien Toviano and three-star rookies Jeremiah Hughes and Ashton Stamps early in the signing period.
Johnson was a four-star cornerback and the No. 50 rookie in the country, according to 247Sports Composite, from De Smet. Chestnut was a three-star signer and New Jersey’s No. 7 player out of Camden High School.
Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and USA TODAY Sports South Region. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley.