LSU football star officially declares for NFL Draft

LSU football safety AJ Haulcy has declared for the NFL Draft, per On3 Sports. He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News earlier this month, a well-deserved honor given the impact he had on the Tigers’ defense this season.

Haulcy transferred to LSU for his final collegiate season after spending two years at Houston and his freshman season at New Mexico. He was 247Sports’ third-ranked safety in last year’s transfer portal class, and his decision to head to Baton Rouge worked out exceptionally well for both parties.

Haulcy’s standout 2025 performance was among the best in the SEC, with his 87.8 PFF defensive grade ranking second-best in the conference. His 88.8 coverage grade ranked second-best in the conference as well.

Haulcy was no slouch in the run game, either. He led the conference in tackles (66) and made 20 run stops, the sixth-most.

It’s disappointing that Haulcy and the defense’s spectacular play in 2025 couldn’t have been paired with a more effective offense. Still, it will be exciting to see what he does at the next level.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper currently predicts Haulcy will be taken between the second and fourth rounds of the draft.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football star officially declares for NFL Draft