4-star LB Elijah Barnes visiting LSU this weekend

Earlier this month, Dallas Skyline four-star linebacker Elijah Barnes trimmed his list of top schools down to 10. Among that group was LSU.

The Tigers currently have the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation and aren’t taking the foot off the gas, either. Brian Kelly and his staff are set to host a plethora of elite prospects in the coming days, including Barnes.

He announced on Thursday via social media that he will be in Baton Rouge this weekend as the SEC program looks to make another move in his recruitment.

Barnes is the No. 109 overall prospect and No. 14 LB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 19 player in Texas.

Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, Ohio State, USC, Texas A&M, SMU, Nebraska and Texas make up the rest of Barnes’ stacked top 10. Official visits to Nebraska (April 26) and SMU (May 10) have already been locked in as other programs look to join that group.

The Longhorns are currently trending for Barnes, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). Texas insiders Charlie Williams and Justin Wells have each logged picks in favor of the in-state program landing the 6-foot-1.5, 215-pounder’s pledge.

LSU Class Breakdown

The Tigers have nine commitments so far in 2025, with all of them checking in as blue-chip prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking. The class features three five-stars (QB Bryce Underwood, RB Harlem Berry, WR Dakorien Moore) and six four-star prospects.

“LSU felt like home,” Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect in the cycle, told On3 upon his commitment. “The relationship I built with the coaching staff is unbreakable. I’ve never felt an atmosphere better than LSU’s. It’s unreal.”

Seven of the nine future Tigers hail from the state of Louisiana, a recruiting priority for head coach Brian Kelly since he took over. In 2024, LSU signed 13 of the state’s top 17 prospects, including nine of the top 10.

The Tigers currently have the most blue-chip commitments in the country and the fifth-highest number of total commits as well. Seven are projected to play on the offensive side of the ball at the next level, while cornerback Jaboree Antoine and and linebacker Keylan Moses represent the defense.

“It’s a great atmosphere. There’s nothing like it, nothing like the culture there at LSU. There’s nothing like being home in Louisiana,” Antoine told On3.