Grant Delpit – Noteworthy
Last Thursday, on the opening day of spring football, the LSU athletic department officially announced Delpit would be wearing No. 7, and Delpit said he’s been reached out to by former Tigers who have worn the jersey, including Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu. “It’s a cool experience,” Delpit said Tuesday, the first day players spoke with the media during spring football. As other LSU players trickled into the interview room, they shared the belief that the selection of Delpit for No. 7 was a no-doubter. “Obvious choice for me,” said nickel safety Kary Vincent. “I couldn’t see it going anywhere else.”
Delpit was one of the most dominant defensive players in the country in 2018, earning a first team All-America status with each of the five major voting parties: Walter Camp, AP, FWAA, Sporting News and the AFCA. Delpit recorded 74 total tackles as a true sophomore, leading the Tigers with five interceptions and tying the team lead with five sacks. “I’m proud of Grant,” said outside linebacker Michael Divinity. “The progress he made from his freshman year to now. I’m happy he got No. 7. He deserves it. He’s going to make that number stand out and make the guys before him happy.” Delpit said the first No. 7 he remembers watching at LSU was former linebacker Ali Highsmith, an All-American who helped the Tigers win the 2007 BCS National Championship. – Baton Rouge Advocate
Mannie Netherly – Noteworthy
A fourth LSU scholarship player has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Junior cornerback Mannie Netherly entered the portal, a source told The Advocate. The news was first reported by Matt Zenitz of AL.com. The Texas native joins outside linebacker Dantrieze Scott and defensive tackles Davin Cotton and Dominic Livingston in the portal. Players can enter the portal by notifying their athletic department, and the school’s compliance department will enter the player’s name into the database within two business days. Players still have the option to remove their names. The 6-foot-3, 199-pound Netherly played in 11 games in 2018, and he was listed as the third team cornerback behind Terrence Alexander and Kary Vincent. Netherly recorded three total tackles in 2018. Netherly is the fourth defender inside the portal. True freshman Dominic Livingston said that “family issues” led to him entering the NCAA transfer portal last month. Livingston did not say which school he was transferring to but said he would like to move home to Texas. – Baton Rouge Advocate