Brian Kelly and LSU Tigers fans bracing for bad news on recruiting trail as top five star looks likely to flip
The LSU Tigers are well on their way to posting another top ten recruiting class in 2026. However, there could be some bad news on the horizon that derails some of the momentum building in Baton Rouge.Over the last couple weeks not one, but two wide receiver commits for LSU have been a bit non-committal […]
The LSU Tigers are well on their way to posting another top ten recruiting class in 2026. However, there could be some bad news on the horizon that derails some of the momentum building in Baton Rouge.
Over the last couple weeks not one, but two wide receiver commits for LSU have been a bit non-committal with their recruitment processes. Kenny Darby visited Alabama and all of a sudden looks like he could possibly flip as his final decision looms. Now more and more evidence continues to point towards five star wide receiver Tristen Keys' potential flip this summer.
Tristen Keys looks like he might flip from LSU
When you're a five star wide receiver it makes sense to do all the research, take several visits, ensuring the right choice is made with your recruitment. Tristen Keys could just be making sure LSU is where he truly wants to be with all of the noise here recently, but the buzz surrounding a potential flip is getting rather loud at this point.
Keys, the number one wide receiver in the country, just took an official visit to Miami, an unofficial to Ole Miss, and will be heading to both Alabama and Tennessee before the month of June ends. As A to Z Sports and other publications have reported, Keys has made it clear that he loves a number of the coaching staffs and continues to talk to all of them this summer.
Talking to coaching staff at other schools is one thing, but now he's also signed a deal with Adidas (LSU is a Nike school) and stripped all mention of LSU from his social media accounts. That's not a great indication of commitment for Brian Kelly and LSU fans.
It's a bit strange to see this rapid descent towards a likely flip for Tristen Keys as he's been adamant all spring about LSU "not being done" and there being "much more to come" with Tigers' 2026 recruiting class. He's played an instrumental role in attempting to build up the class all spring long. So why possibly leave now?
There is certainly a lot of speculation circulating out there, but given his recent quotes on multiple programs it might come down to one simple fact. Garrett Nussmeier is going to be gone after this season and the quarterback situation looks far from settled at LSU as Keys' college career approaches.
Yes, Michael Van Buren (transfer from Mississippi State) might work out. Colin Hurley could eventually grow into something. However, as of this writing, LSU still doesn't have a quarterback signed for 2026 and of course did not bring a freshman in at all this past cycle.
Meanwhile, some of the teams who are pursuing him hardest do have their foundational passer seemingly in place. 2026 five star Faizon Brandon (Tennessee), Jaxson Dart's replacement in Austin Simmons (Ole Miss), and 2025 five star Keelon Russell (Alabama) likely look like much safer bets at quarterback than the pure hope that LSU figures out their passing situation for 2026 and beyond.
Regardless of his reasons, Keys continues to posture as if his days as an LSU commit are numbered. Let's hope he has a change of heart considering how talented he is, but Brian Kelly and LSU fans likely need to prepare for the worst.
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LSU fans should be concerned if Brian Kelly can't keep Tristen Keys committed. Just check out some of his top plays from last fall in the video below. He's the best wide receiver recruit in the country.
