LSU redshirt freshman quarterback Emile Picarella III entered the NCAA transfer portal on May 23, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The move came less than 24 hours after Middle Tennessee State transfer quarterback Kaden Martin joined the Tigers under new head coach Lane Kiffin.
>>> Marta Kostyuk Advances at French Open After Emotional Win Amid Kyiv Missile Strikes
Picarella's departure was first reported by Matt Moscona of Locked on LSU.
Picarella, a three-star prospect from University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, threw for 2,312 yards and 34 touchdowns in high school before joining LSU as a preferred walk-on.
He redshirted during the 2025 season.
Because Picarella joined as a walk-on without athletic financial aid, NCAA rules allow immediate portal entry without waiting for a window.
He retains four years of college eligibility and is expected to draw interest from mid-major programs this summer.
"I’ve decided to move on from LSU. I’ll always appreciate my teammates, the old and new staff, and the opportunity I had there.
>>> Arsenal Lift Premier League Trophy After 22-Year Wait
I wish the program nothing but success," Picarella said.
Martin is the fourth transfer quarterback Kiffin has brought in this offseason, joining Arizona State's Sam Leavitt, USC's Husan Longstreet, and Elon's Landen Clark.
Martin, a 5-foot-11 left-handed thrower and former three-star recruit, previously played college baseball at Miami and East Tennessee State before converting to football at MTSU.
He has not appeared in a college football game.
His father, Tee Martin, a former Tennessee national champion quarterback, was hired by Kiffin as an LSU offensive analyst in March after coaching quarterbacks for the Baltimore Ravens.
According to reports, Kiffin aggressively pursued transfer quarterbacks due to health concerns surrounding projected starter Sam Leavitt.
>>> Mohamed Esa Breaks Course Record at Cape Town Marathon; Kipchoge Finishes 16th
Leavitt spent spring recovering from a serious lower leg and foot injury requiring stabilizing pins, which were removed in April, with full clearance expected by summer.
