Brian Kelly has high praise for underrated LSU football transfer from SEC rival

USA Today

17-07-2025

Head coach Brian Kelly talked during SEC media day about LSU football's newest additions from the transfer portal.
Part of the top transfer class in the nation was tight end Donovan Green, who comes from Texas A&M. He dealt with injuries the past two seasons after a breakout true freshman year, but Kelly remains confident in the redshirt junior.
"Pleasant surprise is how I would characterize his addition," Kelly said. "He played as a true freshman at A&M and then suffered a very difficult injury that really put him in a tough position to really find his footing at A&M. He says nothing but great things about the staff and how he was treated there."
Green caught 22 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns in his first year of college football. An ACL tear ahead of the 2023 season sidelined him and he dealt with recovery effects the following year.
The Tigers needed to replace one of their leading receivers at tight end as Mason Taylor departed for the NFL. Green brings a veteran presence as a pass catcher and blocker at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. He's healthy and ready for a new beginning, according to Kelly.
Green was one of two transfer portal additions at tight end for LSU. The Tigers also added Bauer Sharp from Oklahoma. Along with the return of Trey'Dez Green, LSU has the personnel for multiple tight end sets.
"This was just a fresh start for him," Kelly said. "For us, we bring a mature veteran player that has had some success when healthy and we're seeing that version of him right now in our program."