LSU Tigers 2025 recruiting class draws praise after football program solves NIL problem

The LSU Tigers have a top-three recruiting class for 2025 already.

LSU kicked off the 2025 recruitment cycle on a high note, securing commitments from the top quarterback Bryce Underwood, leading running back Harlem Berry, and premier wide receiver Dakorien Moore. According to a recent ESPN report, LSU faced challenges in attracting some of the country's top prospects over the last two cycles due to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) infrastructure deficiencies.

The key, per a rival SEC staffer, is learning how to work with NIL to their advantage. "There were a lot of questions of what they had going on financially. But it seems like they've figured it out with the prospects you might have to compete for from an NIL standpoint. The Pickett sweepstakes were huge for them."

Moore's decision to decommit in the spring was a bitter pill to swallow, just like cornerback Jaboree Antoine's switch to Miami. However, by mid-August, the Tigers managed to maintain the third-ranked recruiting class, holding on to their key commitments, gaining a pledge from the top athlete, and enhancing their class depth over the summer.

The highlight of the summer for Brian Kelly and his team was D.J. Pickett's commitment on July 17. The 14th-ranked prospect nationwide chose LSU over Miami and Oregon, providing LSU with a significant victory in securing top talent after Moore chose Oregon on July 4.

Pickett, who is expected to take up the safety position in college, arrives in Baton Rouge as a crucial addition to the Tigers' secondary, especially under the supervision of new defensive coordinator Blake Baker.

Additionally, the Tigers bolstered their offense by adding four-star wide receiver Derek Meadows (ranked 187th) and offensive tackle Carius Curne (ranked 120th in the ESPN 300).

The defensive lineup saw enhancements too, with new commitments from defensive tackle Zion Williams (ranked as the 15th DT for 2025) and defensive ends Damien Shanklin (ranked 17th) and Jesse Harrold (ranked 22nd), enriching an already strong contingent of defensive linemen set to join Baton Rouge in this cycle.

Despite these challenges, LSU's ability to retain Underwood and Berry and to outmaneuver Oregon and Miami for Pickett suggests a positive shift in momentum. The program appears on track to secure its first top-five recruiting class since Kelly's debut in 2021.