Brian Kelly and LSU Tigers set to extend ridiculously disappointing streak in recruiting, but history shows they may overcome it
Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers know the pressure is on to win now and win big this year with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at the helm. It's not just because of how disappointing last season's 9-4 finish was (given the team's talent).The real urgency stems from the fact that, thanks to Brian Kelly's ridiculously disappointing […]
Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers know the pressure is on to win now and win big this year with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at the helm. It's not just because of how disappointing last season's 9-4 finish was (given the team's talent).
The real urgency stems from the fact that, thanks to Brian Kelly's ridiculously disappointing streak of QB recruiting from the high school ranks, the future now looks completely uncertain beyond this year.
LSU Tigers likely won't have a top QB recruit commit in their 2026 class
Yes, it's great that Brian Kelly brought in Jayden Daniels via the Transfer Portal. Michael Van Buren (transfer this offseason) may end up being somewhat viable if given a chance to start in 2026.
However, it's now been since 2022 that Brian Kelly has brought in any high school quarterback ranked inside the top 200 players in the country. The only QB that fit that bill was Walker Howard (in Kelly's first year, 2022), but he's been long gone for a while.
Now, thanks to Brian Kelly's failure to close on yet another recruiting cycle of quarterback recruits, the LSU Tigers almost certainly won't land a top QB recruit for 2026 either. In fact, they may not land a QB recruit in the cycle at all.
Bowe Bentley, a highly touted top 100 recruit from Texas, was their final hope among the best freshman options, but he committed to Oklahoma two weeks ago. Since then there's been no signs of life for LSU's hopes with any other top QB option.
It's not as if LSU didn't try to pursue top quarterbacks for the 2026 recruiting class. They chased hard after several elite options like Faizon Brandon, Keisean Henderson, Jared Curtis, Ryder Lyons, Dia Bell, Jake Fette, Jonas Williams, Bryson Beaver, and of course Bowe Bentley. Brian Kelly and company missed out on all of them.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. As LSU Tigers fans are well aware, despite the streak of poor high school QB recruiting (outside of Garrett Nussmeier in 2021), the Bayou Bengals have consistently found a way to get an elite quarterback on the field.
Brian Kelly and LSU Tigers ridiculous streak of poor high school QB recruiting
Joe Burrow transferred in from Ohio State. Jayden Daniels transferred in from Arizona State. That duo put up two of the best college football seasons in the history of the game for LSU. The Tigers have clearly found success with QBs despite largely failing at high school QB recruiting.
Now, Garrett Nussmeier is proof that the Tigers can take home grown talent and develop them, but it's been a long, long time since LSU has done that (and Brian Kelly didn't even recruit him).
The last quarterback the LSU Tigers sent on to be drafted in the NFL that was recruited out of high school was seriously Matt Flynn back in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was class of 2003. Nick Saban was the head coach.
So yes, the last home grown LSU quarterback to go on to be drafted was recruited over 20 years ago. Nussmeier should break that streak next year, but that doesn't fix Brian Kelly's horrible streak and apparent high school QB recruiting problem.
Walker Howard was a top 100 recruit back in 2022, but he transferred out quickly. Rickie Collins was a decent top 300 prospect, but he's now with Syracuse. Colin Hurley was a fringe four star quarterback in 2024, but may never become the starter. Brian Kelly completely whiffed on the 2025 freshman class, losing Bryce Underwood to Michigan. Now he's completely whiffed on 2026 (unless there's a shocking flip late).
LSU fans better enjoy the 2025 college football season, because unless Brian Kelly can pull off some transfer magic again the future does not look promising at quarterback. Hopefully LSU fans get some absolutely shocking news that proves this take wrong here soon.
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