Lane Kiffin reveals 26-year-old LSU star retires from college football to pursue rap career

Jun 18, 2026 - 15:45

LSU are losing one of their players before the season starts.

Rapper Toosii is no longer a member of the college football programme at Louisiana State University.

Nau'Jour Grainger #89 of the LSU Tigers in action during spring practice at the LSU Football Operations Center on April 7, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. — Toosii is no longer part of LSU’s football program

As revealed by head coach Lane Kiffin, the recording artist has left the team after spending less than three months participating in spring practices and organized team activities.

Having established a very successful rap career, he announced last year his intention to make college football history.

“I’m chasing history. First multi-platinum recording artist to go back to school and play DIVISION I football. Next year I’m gonna be on somebody’s team mark my words,” he posted on social media.

Toosii’s arrival was promptly questioned by former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu, and now just three months later, he is no longer part of the team.

“That was all Toosii, he came to us with that, and I am like ‘okay what are we doing here,” Kiffin said in an appearance on In the Bayou with Tyrann Mathieu.

“I met with him, he is awesome, he is an awesome person, you know, figured out life, going through a lot of stuff like all of us and in a really good spot and he just wanted to try.

“He was like I really wanna try and see what I can do.”

Upon being asked whether Toosii was here, Kiffin then revealed that the 26-year-old recently left the program.

“No, he just recently, after seeing it all and going through it, and he was doing well I think he just had to balance everything.

“Then there is little limitations on what he can make and do, and he signed with one of the gambling companies – and he went back to his professional career, I really enjoyed being around him, it wasn’t a stunt.”

Nau'Jour Grainger #89 of the LSU Tigers in action during spring practice at the LSU Football Operations Center on March 24, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. — LSU head coach said that Toosii was doing well at OTA’s and practice

Toosii performs onstage during the MASA TOUR at State Farm Arena on October 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. — Toosii is returning to his rapping career, which he set up in 2017

Toosii, real name Nau’Jor Lazier Grainger, began his music career in 2017, rising to fame with the release of his single ‘Favorite Song’ in 2020.

The single would go on to peak at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned double platinum certification after it went viral on social media.

The song has now been streamed more than 250 million times on Spotify with more than 350 million views on YouTube.

He boasts more than four million followers on both social media platforms Instagram and TikTok.

Toosii committed to Syracuse before LSU stint

Grainger played football for Rolesville High School in North Carolina, but put his sporting dreams on hold to focus on his music.

In December 2025, Grainger returned to his hometown of Syracuse, New York, and accepted an offer to play for Syracuse Orange’s head coach Fran Brown.

Toosii performs at Skydeck at Assembly Food Hall on July 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. — Toosii’s hit single ‘Favorite Song’ has 250 million streams on Spotify with more than 350 million views on YouTube

It would all fall apart in January, with Brown adding more players from the transfer portal than he was expecting, leaving Toosii without a scolarship.

Toosii referred to Brown as a “bozo” on TikTok. His account of what happened was different from what the head coach said happened.

Toosii now returns his full focus to the music industry, leaving his brief historic pursuit as footnote ahead of LSU’s upcoming season.

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