Tyron Johnson to Transfer|LSU Hot Topics|Team BattleGround|College BattleGround

Former five-star wide receiver recruit Tyron Johnson announced via Twitter that he would be departing the LSU program and has been granted his release by the LSU coaching staff.

According to his father, Johnson is looking to play in a “more wide open offense.”

Johnson’s announcement comes on the heels of the team loosing Christian Lacouture and Isaiah Washington to season ending injuries, as well as Corey Thompson missing several weeks due to a broken leg. Unlike Lacouture and Thompson, however, Johnson was not expected to start.

The loss of Johnson does not help the Tigers’ depth at wide receiver after veterans John Diarse and Trey Quinn departed during the off-season. Though both Diarse and Quinn would have been upperclassmen entering 2016 while Johnson would have been just a true sophomore.

While this departure does rob the Tigers of some experience at the position, it isn’t particularly debilitating. Dupre and Doral figure to be one-two in receptions and receiving yards and would have started ahead of Johnson. Meanwhile, other veterans such as DJ Chark and Derrick Dillon, along with freshman Stephan Sullivan and Drake Davis are all vying for the remaining receiving yards, which would have made it tough for Johnson to get on the field.

One of the most sought after recruits as a senior in high school, and the top player in the state according to 247, Johnson should have no shortage of suitors. He was recruited heavily by several Big 12 schools before deciding on the Tigers.

In his one season with the Tigers Johnson had nine receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns.