LSU HIT WITH DEVASTATING NEWS: Gabe Reliford Tears ACL in Spring

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Gabriel, for it has suffered a torn ACL.

We've got what you need to know and how the Tigers go about replacing him.

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I'm your host, Matt Muscona.

LSU edge Gabe Releford suffered a torn ACL in the second workout of spring practice.

He is out indefinitely and likely going to miss the bulk.

If not all of the 2026 LSU football season.

We'll walk you through what we know as of right now and how LSU goes about replacing him in that edge room.

Thank you so much for being here with us.

Just a quick catch up.

The media viewing portion of practice has been about 30 minutes.

Tuesday, Thursday, and then on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Releford and Dylan Carpenter were running with the second team at edge.

In the 11 on 11 drills.

The transfers Prince William on me, Ellen and Jordan Ross were running with the ones.

So Releford and Carpenter with the twos.

On Thursday, and I had to go back and check practice video that I had gotten to make sure that Releford was in fact out there on Thursday

because I was watching the offensive field and my colleague at Louisiana Sports Senate on Palmer was watching the defense.

But I did get some video of the defense.

And sure enough, I did get Releford on video Thursday.

So he was dressed in practicing Thursday.

Saturday when the media was out there, Releford was not present.

And so that would certainly lead you to believe that the injury happened in Thursday's practice the second of spring.

Whenever I noticed Releford was not there on Saturday.

I started making calls and have had three people, four people now actually confirmed me.

Well, it's confirmed to me that Gabe Releford did in fact tear his ACL.

So the red shirt sophomore from Evangelan Treeport, who really burst onto the scene with a very productive freshman season.

If you remember back in 2024 when he came in, there was a lot of excitement around him.

He played in all 13 games. He made a start.

The numbers weren't huge.

He had just 10 tackles, half a sack of TFL, but he was effective and played in every game.

And so building on that going into 2025, there was this feeling that Releford would really take take off.

Now remember in 2025, LSU added Jack Pibern and Patrick Peyton and Jamari Butler via the portal.

Well, those three and Releford made up the rotation at edge to start the season.

And in that season, in just four games, Releford had made eight tackles, a TFL.

But he suffered a dislocated shoulder and the dislocation was severe enough that it required surgery.

So Releford and there's multiple ways that you can handle the dislocation.

Some guys try to play through it. If it's severe enough, you go have surgery and you shut it down.

My understanding is Releford wanted to play through it. He was advised.

He was not going to be affected, effective in that he would actually make it worse, which is why he made the decision to shut it down.

Remember two seasons ago, Jordan Gilbert played through a shoulder dislocation and was not very effective.

It really affected him. And he had, and he missed last spring, Gilbert did after he had shoulder surgery following the season.

Releford made the decision upon the advice, the advisement of the physicians to shut it down after four games.

So Releford played all 13 games of freshman with one start, played in just four games last year as a sophomore, so he took a red shirt year.

So now as a red shirt sophomore, he was expected to step back into that role.

And the thing that my goodness just stinks so bad about this for Gabriel Releford is everyone I talk to around that program talks about how much he attacked.

This off season. And this is where you're just gutted for the, for the person.

Because Releford is a Louisiana kid and the portal era when guys leave, you know, last year when LSU went and added all those transfers.

He could have left the side of the stay, be part of that rotation, be part of something bigger, suffers the injury, Brian Kelly fired.

All the guys coming in via the portal this year, he could have left again, didn't stayed once to be at LSU.

And from what I understand, everyone I talk to says, man, every time they went into the facility, Releford was there.

He was in, he was getting, getting workouts by himself in the weight room.

He was getting treatment in the training room.

He was doing, you know, edge doing drills, football drills at the indoor, by himself, this entire off season.

This is a guy who is the consummate teammate, the full buy-in.

The guy who takes it upon himself to go above and beyond and do more on his own.

You don't have to tell him to do what he's going to do it himself and go above and beyond.

So you're gutted for Releford in this situation.

Now the other question with this injury is timeline.

So in making several calls today, it sounds like, look, I mean, we've covered enough torn ACLs over the years, right?

It's just unfortunately a common injury in football.

And typically the best case scenario is seven months.

That's a best case.

So that would put Releford maybe cleared late October.

You're at the end of October, maybe into November, but then remember, you also have the conditioning ramp up period as well.

So I mean, optimistic, best case, you're talking about late season.

Maybe he could come back and give you something.

Maybe, or if you do play into the postseason, you know, if you make it into the college football playoff and you want to play through December and January.

Then certainly he could be back and give you something by that point.

And remember, playing in the postseason doesn't count against your eligibility.

So it wouldn't cost him a year if he came back for the postseason.

So in theory, Releford could have a, he's already redshirted this past year.

But maybe is there the possibility for a medical?

I just, I don't know the answer to that and how that would all play out.

But specifically for this season, it, it sounds like the best case for Releford would be a, maybe a late season or postseason return.

But there's a very real possibility that this injury is going to cost Gabe Releford the entire 2026 season as disappointing as that is.

The flip side of it now is with Releford out, we have to talk about who replaces him.

What do you do in that room now?

And, and there are some options, some returning guys, some incoming transfers and some freshman as well.

So we'll kind of chop through all that here as we continue.

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Of course, I'd love to highlight Gabe Releford in this situation because we're talking about him here on this episode.

But as we just mentioned, Gabe Releford is the consummate team guy, Louisiana, from Evangel in Shreveport, came to LSU, had a breakout freshman season, unfortunately suffered an injury.

But tacked that all off season was poised for a great year and unfortunately suffered an injury that's going to cost him.

But if Gabe Releford's past is any indication how he's going to attack, recovering from this injury, we can expect to see him back soon and hopefully better than ever.

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So with Gabe Relaford out the Tigers have to move forward now at the edge spot without a guy who certainly was going to factor into the two deep or the Tigers in 2026.

One thing that I think we should start with of course is who's coaching that position.

If you haven't been catching our practice reports, one notable change is Kevin Peoples and Starling Lucas have flipped.

So Peoples has spent the past couple of seasons in Baton Rouge working with the edge rushers when he followed Blake Baker over from Missouri.

Now Kevin Peoples is listed as the interior defensive line coach who he's working with defensive tackles.

Starling Lucas who came over from South Carolina is working with the edge rushers.

So that's something worth considering just because you do have a new position coach with the edge rushers.

So in some respects, the returning guys are going to have to learn the expectations of a new coach at that position as Kevin Peoples has moved inside.

Most notably as we discussed are the transfers and you added three edge rushers as transfers.

Prince Wulumon Miellen, Jordan Ross and Jalen Brown.

Now, Uman Miellen was the crown jewel defensively, right?

He was a top five player in the portal and you're coming in from Ole Miss where last year as a junior, he was among the SEC leaders, nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss.

He was a really impactful player this past year at Ole Miss.

Now, he started his career in Nebraska in 2023, played in 11 games there in 23 and 24 played in 12 games in Nebraska and then transferred Ole Miss last year and had a really dominant junior season.

And now finishing up his career at LSU again, the number one edge in the transfer portal and Uman Miellen has been running with the one so far.

The other really notable player be the portal and the guy that has been taking the reps with the one so far is Jordan Ross.

So Jordan Ross coming in from Tennessee, remember Ross coming out of high school was a five star.

He was the number one edge rusher in the country in 2024, the number seven overall prospect regardless of position.

So he was a massive prospect coming out of the state of Alabama when he signed with Tennessee.

He played in 11 games as a freshman in 2024, just three tackles, only 20 defensive snaps.

Then last year as a sophomore played in 11 games, all as a backup did not start.

So he's a rotational player at edge rusher played 246 defensive snaps.

So the interesting thing about Jordan Ross is the former five star, massive ceiling when you talk about the physical ability.

He's 65246. I mean, he was the physical free coming out of high school as a top 10 overall player in the country.

But at Tennessee, he was just a backup the last few years, stands to reason.

He's going to get his opportunity now in a starting role with LSU and be a key part of this rotation.

The wild card here is Jalen Brown.

So Jalen Brown is, he comes in from South Carolina and he's wearing number 93.

He's another big body to edge. You can tell us the style of player that's certainly Lucas once.

He's 66 270 out of the state of Alabama signed with South Carolina.

Oh, no, forgive me. I'm sorry. Out of the state of Alabama, signed with Missouri played in five games as a freshman in Missouri in 2024.

Been transferred to South Carolina this past season.

And he was injured in spring in 2025 and missed the entire season.

So this is a guy in Jalen Brown who physically checks the box 66 270.

But he's now in his third SEC school in his many years.

Five games at Missouri, missed the entire 2025 season due to injury at South Carolina.

And now he's at LSU. So keep an eye on Brown. He's just a wild card. Super high ceiling.

But in two years, he's played in five games and now is on his third C school in his many seasons.

But his position coach sterling Lucas at South Carolina is now the edge coach at LSU and obviously brought him here for a reason.

So those those three your names certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Then you have your returning players, right?

And Dylan Carpenter is probably the most notable played in 10 games a season ago for LSU.

Made made just five tackles on the season.

But Carpenter again as a guy who is a local guy that has made the decision to hang around the program when a lot of other guys would leave.

He does not physically look like the other guys I just mentioned.

He's 63 to 52 now. He's a fourth year player. He's a red shirt junior from Santa.

But the other guys were talking about a 6566 270, right?

So just just a different physical skill set, but Carpenter as a fourth year guy has been running with the two so far.

So as we mentioned, umon me Ellen and Ross have been the ones.

The two's had been.

Relaferred and and Carpenter now with Relaferd out.

He's been replaced by collage Cobbins.

Another guy that I'll get to Cobbins in a second, but another guy that doesn't physically look like the others.

As for Carpenter across three seasons, he's played in 20 games.

He has not made a start. He's got just 15 tackles.

So productivity hasn't been there, but the opportunity hasn't necessarily been there for Dylan Carpenter as Ella.

She's had a log jam at that position and they've continued and consistently brought in guys who are via the transfer portal like they did last year when they were really all in.

Now collage Cobbins is someone else we have to mention.

He's a a smaller, quicker range year edge out of Destrahan.

He's a red shirt sophomore going into his third year.

Again, six three two thirty four and Cobbins is put on weight from when the time he showed up and watching collage the last two years.

He is explosive off the edge when they run past rushing drills.

His athleticism off the edge is really impressive, but a two thirty four.

Can you set the edge against the run that kind of makes you more of a situational player, but Cobbins has been the guy in two years has played nine games.

Has not made a start has just three tackles and it's mostly been special teams, but Cobbins is a guy that's hung around the program.

And he is the one who who on Saturday replaced Gabe Relaford at the edge spot.

So again, umami Ellen Ross with the ones with the twos on Saturday was carpenter and collage Cobbins.

You know, we mentioned Jalen Brown coming in as a transfer addition, but it's also worth mentioning that you've got Damien Shanklin there as well.

So Shanklin is a guy who as a freshman a year ago.

He wears number 17 and you can just sort of tell the physical difference and how some of those are coming goes.

He's 65 to 54 red shirted last year as a freshman played in just five games and made made two tackles, but he's a guy that was a highly touted dude coming out of Indianapolis a consensus four star.

He was one of the top prospects in the state of Indiana, the number 145 overall prospect in the composite.

So he's a really highly sought after guy came in a year ago again with all those veteran edge rushers was buried on the depth chart.

Shanklin will be interesting to see how he might develop again miss the first two practices, but was there on Saturday.

So one to watch here over the remaining dozen practices in spring to see how he might factor in.

And then there's the freshman your Trenton Henderson is one worth watching. He's wearing number 91.

And you know, he was a five star out of the state of Florida and you know, it's really hard to give you any type of any type of feedback so far because Saturday was the first day they even more shoulder pads.

And how much jerseys and shorts and a lot of this that we get to watch is just individual drills where they're hitting sleds and dummies and new and bag drills and footwork.

So I can't give you any type of real honest assessment of Trenton Henderson except to say he's 64243 he's out of Pensacola.

He was a consensus four star. He was 24 seven ranked him as the number eight overall edge in the country.

But again, this is a guy that was recruited by the former seven now no Blake Baker still in place and Kevin Peoples is still in place.

But you look at that physically what what Kiffin brought in via the portal, big taller, bigger, heavier dudes at the edge spot.

So I don't know what Trenton Henderson's role is as a true freshman will see how he factors in.

And if Jalen Brown is a wild card among the transfers, then now we have to talk about Lamar Brown as well.

Lamar Brown, the number one overall prospect in America out of you high.

Remember, he is not an early enrollee. So he will be at LSU in June.

I mean, technically he's there because he goes to high school on campus.

But he can't start working on going through practice. He won't enroll until June.

So remember Lamar Brown is a he's a monster and a physical freak.

You know, but he's a guy that there's some position flexibility.

He played offensive line in high school. He also played defensive line.

He's some recruiting him as a tackle LSU as Lamar told us on my radio show last summer when I interviewed him.

That LSU is recruiting him to play edge.

And you've still got Kevin Peoples in place, but Peoples is now kicking to the interior.

So do we see Lamar Brown kick inside and play tackle?

Or is he a guy that's going to stay out on the edge with Sterling Lucas?

And what I just started talking about, you know, the big bodied guys think about Lamar Brown.

You're the bigger edge rushers. You think about Lamar Brown.

Okay, you're talking about a guy 6 4 2 95 looks more like a left tackle or an interior defensive lineman.

But is so athletic, he can set the edge defensively and can rush the passer.

So I wouldn't be surprised if he's if he's the queen she's the queen piece on the chess board.

Maybe you see him kick inside and play tackle. Maybe he lines up in plays a lot of edge.

Maybe kicks inside when you want a past rushing set, you know, a group on the field.

Like some people call it like a NASCAR package when ends kick inside and play tackle.

He could certainly do that.

So it'll be interesting to see when Lamar Brown gets here for fall camp.

How they start to integrate him.

But you got numbers. That's undeniable.

I'm on me Ellen Ross Brown, Franklin Cobb and carpenter Henderson Lamar Brown.

I mean, you've got numbers there at the edge spot.

But it is super disappointing whenever you lose a player like Gabe Relaford.

Because what you lost here is is a leader of veteran, a mature player.

So now that just means somebody else steps up.

There was a reason Lamar that that Gabe Relaford was was playing in that spot with the twos as part of that rotation.

There's a reason last year as a true sophomore.

He was part of the four man edge rotation because he was ready.

Well, now with him out, someone else steps up for right now.

It's collage Cobbins might that continue to develop and evolve.

We'll continue to watch and see as we have practice availability throughout this spring.

But super disappointing news, man.

Certainly praying for a speedy recovery for Gabe Relaford, wishing him all the best.

And hopefully maybe a return late in the 2026 season for the Tigers.

First big injury so far of spring has befallen the LSU Tigers.

But I'll afford who's 2026 is very much up in the air now as it develops.

We'll keep you posted.

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