LSU shocks Oregon, Miami by stealing five-star recruit

In what had been shaping up to be another stud commitment for the Oregon Ducks, a late curveball means Ducks head coach Dan Lanning will have to wait for another opportunity to smoke a celebratory cigar.

Defensive Back DJ Pickett, a rangy and athletic 6'4" defensive back that factored in as a two-way athlete in high school, shocked everyone by committing to the LSU Tigers.

Pickett is a composite five-star plus recruit, meaning all the major recruiting services unanimously have him ranked as a five-star player. Pickett also slots in as one of the top defensive backs in the 2025 recruiting class. Choosing the Tigers over the Oregon Ducks and the Miami Hurricanes in his announcement, he factors as a major get for an LSU program looking to return to prominence.

"If you a DB and coach [Corey] Raymond is at LSU, I feel like that's the right place to be at," Pickett said on the On3 YouTube Channel after announcing his commitment.

LSU Adds To An Already Strong 2025 Recruiting Class

Pickett isn't the only blue chip player that LSU has landed in the 2025 recruiting cycle – he joins Bryce Underwood, the number one player and quarterback in the class, as they look to reshape LSU's program.

247 Sports now ranks LSU as the No. 4 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle as the Tigers look to take control of the SEC in the post-Saban era.

Oregon Is Still In The Mix For Numerous Other Blue Chip Recruits

Missing on Pickett stings, but Ducks fans still have plenty to be excited about. Lanning and company have proven the ability to recruit at an incredibly high level, and are right in the thick of things for a number of other blue chip talents.

Chief among them is Trey McNutt, a 6'0" safety out of Cleveland Ohio. McNutt is the No. 1 Safety in the 2025 recruiting cycle, and is set to announce his commitment on July 19. Oregon, USC, and Ohio State are said to be in the mix.

McNutt is fresh off an official visit to University of Oregon on June 21, and would be the second five star recruit to commit to the Ducks in the 2025 class if he decides to do so, providing an anchor in the secondary as the Ducks move to the Big Ten.