2026 5-star DL Jahkeem Stewart visits LSU for Bayou Splash
One of the premier recruiting events in the nation is taking place this weekend in Baton Rouge, as LSU is hosting a slew of talent for the Bayou Splash.
One of the multiple five-stars in attendance is Reserve (La.) St. Augustine defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, On3’s No. 1 prospect in the 2026 cycle. Right in the Tigers’ backyard, Stewart has been trending to the in-state program in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine since March.
The 6-foot-5.5, 270-pounder is once again spending time with head coach Brian Kelly and the LSU staff as he continues to maneuver through his recruiting process. Rumors also continue to swirl around a potential reclassification to the 2025 cycle for Stewart.
The Tigers may currently be trending, but there’s still plenty of top-notch competition in the race for Stewart’s pledge. Auburn, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas and USC have all had the five-star on campus and are in the mix. Earlier this week, however, LSU insider Shea Dixon still pegged the Tigers as the team to beat moving forward.
“I would lean towards no, not reclassifying, just because I think it probably would’ve already gotten done by now,” Dixon said on ‘The Inside Scoop’ this week. “We”ll see, I’m not ruling it out but I’m not leaning there. Regardless, there’s going to be smoke around a ton of teams in this recruitment.
…For me, I think it boils down to this: He’s in New Orleans, Frank Wilson’s at LSU, he’s running recruiting not just for the program, but running the city. I don’t think they let a kid like Jahkeem Stewart get out of New Orleans. I’m still going to say that at the end of the day, LSU is the team to beat to Jahkeem Stewart.”
LSU welcomes multiple 5-stars to campus this weekend
Fellow 2026 five-stars Chris Henry Jr. and Jackson Cantwell are also slated to be on campus, as are the likes of 2025 five-star safety Jonah Williams and a crop of the top commits in LSU’s 2025 class. Stewart will be surrounded by top talent as he continues to give the home school a look this weekend.
Bayou Splash preview and top visitors can be seen here.
“LSU is the state school,” Stewart previously told On3. “I love it every time I visit the campus. The fans , the food, the environment it’s home. Coach Frank (Wilson) is always giving me life advice outside of football. My big bro Shone (Washington) plays there now. I like LSU but I’m not opposed to going to school out of state.”