Brian Kelly and LSU Tigers recruiting dominates 2025 cycle in every facet as they aim for the College Football Playoff
The LSU Tigers' 2024 college football season didn't go exactly as planned, but Brian Kelly and his staff are taking steps this off-season to make sure that doesn't happen again.National Signing Day is behind us now and the LSU Tigers finished things up with the #1 Transfer Portal class, the #10 high school class, and […]
The LSU Tigers' 2024 college football season didn't go exactly as planned, but Brian Kelly and his staff are taking steps this off-season to make sure that doesn't happen again.
National Signing Day is behind us now and the LSU Tigers finished things up with the #1 Transfer Portal class, the #10 high school class, and the 7th overall ranked class among all FBS teams. It's clear that Kelly and the Tigers are trying to win now, but thanks to their incredible efforts they're laying the foundation for a strong future too.
LSU Tigers' #1 Transfer Portal Class
Brian Kelly took one look at last year's Transfer Portal results and clearly realized LSU could not do that again. The Tigers ranked 43rd in last season's transfer rankings according to 247Sports, but this year they bounced back all the way up to first in the nation.
LSU's staff added five of the Top 50 consensus Transfer Portal players, seven of the Top 100. Edge rusher Patrick Payton (Florida State) could have been a high selection in this spring's 2025 NFL Draft with elite physical traits, but chose LSU. Both Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky) project to be mid-round NFL Draft picks one day. And the offensive line just got completely revamped with the additions of Josh Thompson, Braelin Moore, and more.
In the case of Nic Anderson, he just needs to stay healthy as he missed essentially all of last season at Oklahoma. If he does play in most 2025 games LSU could have their true X wide receiver as he averaged over 20 yards per receptions and scored 10 touchdowns back in 2023.
Barion Brown is one of the most explosive weapons in the country with the ball in his hands, but Kentucky is obsessed with wasting talent and running terrible offenses so he never broke out with huge receiving seasons there. Brown has scored 5 return touchdowns in his career and can add value as both a receiver and running threat.
Beyond the offensive weapons and elite edge rusher, LSU filled out their transfer class with a handful of proven producers at defensive back with Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech) headlining the bunch. Delane has three years of starting experience already and could be an early NFL Draft pick too.
LSU High Pedigree Instant Impact Recruits
It's hard for many programs to dominate recruiting via the Transfer Portal and the high school ranks, but Brian Kelly and his crew prioritized their future on top of capitalizing on the return of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to win now.
Five star talents DJ Pickett (cornerback) and Harlem Berry (running back) should both immediately slide into roles as true freshman. Pickett's 6'4", long frame should help him bring something to the table no other LSU defensive back currently does. He may lock down an outside corner spot in year one. Harlem Berry's elite speed (verified sub-10.6-second 100 meter time) should pair well with Caden Durham's record-breaking high school track speed at running back, giving LSU the fastest backfield in the nation.
Outside of the obvious five star breakout candidates, high four star interior lineman Solomon Thomas may work into the starting rotation early given his 6'4", 315-pound frame and fast feet. He and Carius Curne at offensive tackle both might have to jump into action as starters or at least strong backups as true freshman given that LSU lost four starting offensive linemen to the NFL Draft this year.
Brian Kelly and his elite recruiting apparatus brought in 21 four and five star recruits in the high school ranks this cycle alone. With that kind of momentum on the traditional recruiting front and #1 overall transfer classes LSU should be back in the College Football Playoff very soon.
The LSU Tigers are in the mix to steal a 2026 recruit that’s currently committed to the Oregon Ducks
That would be a big move by LSU
We'll be back with more LSU Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you want to see what star transfer wide receiver Barion Brown could bring to LSU in 2025 just check out his 2024 highlights in the video below!
