Brian Kelly and LSU can rectify losing Michigan QB Bryce Underwood last year after latest recruiting update
They get another chance for a huge win.
The LSU Tigers remember Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood quite well. They were locked into a recruiting battle for the ultra-talented signal caller ahead of his freshman season with the Wolverines. Now, he is starting in the Big Ten as a true freshman.
Underwood was the top quarterback in the 2025 class and flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan in November of last year. He had been committed to the Tigers since January of 2024. Now, the Bayou Bengals are in hot pursuit of another elite recruit at QB.
LSU named in visit list for five-star QB Elijah Haven
According to Hayes Fawcett, 2027 five-star quarterback Elijah Haven has locked in visits to six different schools during this fall. LSU is one of those. The Tigers are joined by Penn State, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Auburn.
Haven, by all accounts, is arguably the top quarterback in the class. He is ranked the No. 1 QB in the 2027 Rivals Industry Rankings. Haven has offers from nearly every top-tier program around the country – for good reason.
“His combination of size and athletic ability is extremely impressive for the position standing in at nearly 6-foot-5, 215 pounds with a solid basketball background. Haven ran for nearly 1,000 yards to go with over 3,000 yards passing totaling 56 combined touchdowns in the air and on the ground as a sophomore.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals
I discussed this massive opportunity a bit with fellow A to Z contributor, Ian Valentino. He agrees that this is a chance for the Tigers to get a major win in recruiting over rival foes and prove that they can win this sort of QB battle under Brian Kelly nowadays.
“LSU gets another chance at a Bryce Underwood-like prospect with Haven considering Brian Kelly’s program. The difference here is the Tigers aren’t fighting the hometown Wolverines; they have the advantage this time as far as familiarity and staying close to home. The top overall player in his class can be the next supercharged athlete to play for Kelly and be the hub of the offense, so he’s worth going all-out for. Few prospects his age boast the combination of size, speed, and arm strength.” — Ian Valentino, A to Z Sports
Only time will tell where Haven ends up. For LSU, keeping the No. 3 overall recruit in the state close to home should be at the top of their to-do list for the 2027 class. This time, they own that hometown advantage that Michigan possessed with Underwood.
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