Dan Lanning, Oregon Football Lose Major Recruiting Battle to LSU Tigers

The 2025 recruiting class is narrowing down their schools as teams across the country are fighting for the best players available. The Oregon Ducks have been in the running to land five-star defensive back, DJ Pickett all offseason despite the LSU Tigers and Miami Hurricanes making a strong push for him.

On Wednesday, Pickett made his decision and verbally committed to LSU during a live stream announcement on the On3 Recruits YouTube page. Pickett chose the Tigers over both the Ducks and Hurricanes. It's a huge get for Brian Kelly and his program, as they improve their recruiting class by landing a five-star commit.

DJ Pickett is listed as a safety, however, many believe he could switch to cornerback now that he's with LSU. Of course, nothing is set in stone yet until December. So that means Oregon, and Miami for that matter, could still potentially sway Pickett before he puts pen to paper. But as of now, it's expected for Pickett to play for Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers as a freshman in the 2025 season.

There's a chance we'll see Pickett playing immediately next season as well. He has all of the talent in the world and is a physical threat on the defensive side of the ball. At 6-4, DJ Pickett is a physical player who has a knack for finding the ball. Additionally, he's dangerous with the ball in his hands. So he could make some plays offensively for the Tigers next season.

This is a brutal blow for Dan Lanning and the Ducks. The Oregon football program could have jumped up into the top two recruiting rankings had DJ Pickett committed to Dan Lanning's team.

Instead, Oregon is currently ranked No. 4 in recruiting high school players but are still ranked No.2 in the transfer portal, per 247 Sports. Perhaps Dan Lanning and the Ducks can land another five-star recruit later this year before the official signing day commences.

With that said, Oregon is still in a great position for this season and the future. Lanning reeled in five-star EDGE, Elijah Rushing, who is an exciting piece for the 2025 season and beyond. Additionally, the Ducks have received 13 four-star commits this offseason as well. So this program should remain a problem in college football moving forward.

Look for Dan Lanning and the Oregon football team to continue remaining aggressive in recruiting and the transfer portal. Nike founder Phil Knight is pulling through with a ton of NIL money for the program, which has helped build a stellar roster so far.

Related: Why Florida State Football is a 'Concerning Addition' for SEC, Big Ten

Related: Kalen DeBoer Breaks Silence After Nick Saban Snubs Alabama Football from SEC Championship Pick

Related: Bruce Feldman Identifies 5 College Football Teams 'Best Equipped' for NIL, Transfer Portal Era