In order to bolster a weak position, LSU football has been looking for transfer defensive lineman. Gio Paez, a former Wisconsin defensive end, was the first one the team added this offseason.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Paez declared his engagement. After five years of eligibility at Wisconsin, he still has one more season left.
Paez, a 310-pound 6-foot-3 forward, has played in 33 games for the Badgers in his career. He is viewed as a defensive tackle by LSU.
Paez participated in 13 games last year, including the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup with LSU. He was a six-time starter. Paez had 23 tackles and two quarterback hurries by the end of the season. Over his career, he has racked up 36 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Defense tackles are needed for LSU following the departures of senior Jordan Jefferson, junior Mekhi Wingo and redshirt sophomore Maason Smith.
Three backups also transferred.After retention did not pan out, offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole changed positions before spring practice.
Paez gives LSU seven scholarship defensive tackles. He will join a room with senior Jacobian Guillory, senior Jalen Lee, junior-college transfer Shone Washington,
early enrollee De’Myrion Johnson, freshman Dominick McKinley and Makane’ole. McKinley, a five-star recruit, enrolls this summer.
Halfway through spring practice, Guillory and Lee have consistently played on the first-team defense. Washington and walk-on Preston Hickey have been on the second-team defense. Makane’ole and Johnson are on the third team.
LSU is expected to pursue multiple transfer defensive linemen this spring. It recently offered a scholarship to Indiana transfer Philip Blidi.
Blidi, who began his career at Texas Tech, made 11 starts last season. He finished with 30 tackles and four tackles for loss in his one year at Indiana.
