Former LSU offensive lineman Austin Deculus, a starter on the Tigers’ 2019 national championship team, has been released from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, via the NFL transaction wire.
The Cardinals made the move on Thursday as part of routine roster adjustments that also included re-signing tight end Shawn Bowman.
Deculus, 27, had joined Arizona’s practice squad only on October 6 after being waived by the Tennessee Titans at the end of the preseason. His brief stay in the desert ends another chapter in a professional career defined by persistence after a standout college tenure in Baton Rouge.
Deculus arrived at LSU as a highly regarded prospect from Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas, though he was born in Mamou, Louisiana.
Over five seasons (2017-21), he became one of the program’s most durable players, appearing in a school-record 61 games with 46 starts, primarily at right tackle.
Coach Ed Orgeron often referred to him as the “Iron Man.” He started 46 of LSU’s final 49 games of his career and was the only player in Tigers history to play in 60 or more contests.
His peak contribution came during the magical 2019 season. Named the most improved offensive lineman, Deculus started at right tackle for the undefeated 15-0 team that captured the College Football Playoff national championship with a 42-25 win over Clemson.
He played every snap of the title game and was part of the unit that earned the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top offensive line.
That front helped protect Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow in one of the most prolific offenses in college football history while paving the way for a strong ground game.
Deculus also earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition and graduated with a degree in sports administration.
Selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round (205th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, Deculus has since appeared in roughly 26-28 career games with six starts across stints with Houston, the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, and Titans.
His NFL path has been that of a depth tackle and practice-squad contributor rather than a full-time starter, a common trajectory for late-round offensive linemen. The Cardinals release leaves him as a free agent once more.
For LSU fans, Deculus’s legacy remains rooted in Baton Rouge. He embodied the toughness and reliability of the offensive line that anchored a historic championship run, setting a durability standard that still stands.
While his professional opportunities have been limited, the Mamou native’s contribution to one of the greatest teams in Tigers history is secure.
