Lane Kiffin Opens Up About Toosii Leaving LSU Football Program

Rapper Toosii is no longer a member of the college football program at Louisiana State University. The recording artist quit the football team after spending less than three months participating in spring practices and organized team activities.

When it was first announced that the rapper was joining the program, it was a shock to LSU fans, general college football fans, and rap fans as well. He was brought on to play wide receiver earlier this year under new Head Coach Lane Kiffin. The rapper, who's real name is Nau’Jour Lazier Grainger, would have been 26-years-old as his first season of football got underway later this year.

Lane Kiffin Enjoyed Being Around Toosii On The Field

Head Coach Lane Kiffin addressed the roster departure on the 'In The Bayou With Tyrann Mathieu" podcast. The coach praised the rapper as a person, but said some off-field business decisions took priority. Grainger signed a promotional contract with a sports gambling company, which in the very current atmosphere of NCAA student-athlete compliance rules on gambling is not a good look.

But Kiffin said he was impressed with the impact the rapper had on the team while he was there, through his work ethic. Even though he was a celebrity outside of football, players would see him putting in extra reps and late workouts.

Coach Kiffin still says that putting the rapper on the LSU Football team was NOT a publicity stunt.

Music Career Resumes After Football Hiatus

Grainger originally built an audience through TikTok video trends, before securing a music record deal in 2019. His hit "Favorite Song" eventually reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and achieved double-platinum sales status.

He is now returning to the music industry instead of competing against SEC defensive backs. The artist will focus on recording tracks and booking concert tour dates, rather than running routes in Baton Rouge...a reality that officially ends this athletic experiment.