LOOK: Brian Kelly still learning, botches LSU tradition with recruit

New LSU head coach Brian Kelly is getting settled in his new role, and that includes visiting those currently committed to head to Baton Rouge next season.

The list includes four-star cornerback Laterrance Welch, who committed to LSU in January but is still waiting to make a decision and sign on the dotted line. 

Kelly met with Welch on Saturday, and the Louisiana native shared a photo of the two. There is only one program. Kelly’s “L” hand sign, is sideways in the photo.

pic.twitter.com/oX22GHQoaE

— 𝕃𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 “ Lt “ 𝕎𝕖𝕝𝕔𝕙 ¹¹ (@LaterranceW22) December 11, 2021

The signal is commonly used by LSU coaches, players and fans. Kelly previously said he did not learn the tradition until he arrived in Baton Rouge.

On the topic of Welch’s recruitment, according to On3’s Jeremy Crabtree, Arkansas is the primary school that could flip Welch before Early Signing Day on Dec. 15. He took an official visit to Fayetteville last weekend. The departure of famed LSU cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond for Florida certainly hurt Kelly’s chances of signing the No. 12 player in Louisiana. 

According to the 2022 On3 Consensus Recruiting Rankings, LSU has the No. 17 class in the nation this year. They have 11 players committed: one five star, five four stars and five three stars.

LSU transfer portal recap

A lot is in a state of flux in Baton Rouge. Several players will move into the LSU sphere when they sign with the Tigers on Wednesday, while multiple players have elected to leave. 

Included in that count are two starting quarterbacks, Max Johnson and Myles Brennan. Johnson entered the transfer portal on Dec. 8 after being the full-time starter in former head coach Ed Orgeron’s final season with LSU. He threw for 2,814 yards and 27 touchdowns, completing 60.3% of his passes. His brother, Jake, decommitted from LSU when his older sibling announced he would transfer.

Brennan announced he would leave LSU on Nov. 3. He was in contention to start for LSU this season before suffering a freak arm injury in a fishing accident. 

Freshman wide receiver Deion Smith joined Johnson and Brennan in the portal earlier this week. He was the No. 75 prospect in the On3 Consensus 2021 recruiting rankings, and he notched two touchdowns in his first year at LSU.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Landon Jackson will leave Baton Rouge as well after appearing in five games this season but recording no stats. Jackson joined cornerback Eli Ricks, who entered the portal on Nov. 23.