LSU insider details how Tigers landed 2025 5-star RB Harlem Berry

LSU is likely to finish the 2024 recruiting cycle with a top-10 class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. On Wednesday, however, Brian Kelly and the Tigers landed a major 2025 commitment, setting things up for a run at the top class in the upcoming cycle.

Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s Episcopal five-star running back Harlem Berry announced his pledge to the in-state Tigers at the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, adding another feather in the cap of LSU lead recruiter, Frank Wilson.

Wilson, a New Orleans native, has LSU rolling on the recruiting trail alongside Kelly and Co. Berry is now the latest example of an elite in-state recruit that has pledged after being made a primary focus by Wilson and the Tigers’ staff.

“How did it happen? I think you just circle at the start — Frank Wilson, the running backs coach, head recruiter and certainly a guy who knows New Orleans like the back of his hand,” LSU recruiting insider Shea Dixon said on The Inside Scoop. “A lot of other teams tried here, (Berry) went on a lot of other visits, but at the end of the day when the dust settled, everyone said ‘hey, this is going to point in LSU’s direction,’ and here we are.”

Berry is the No. 11 overall prospect, No. 1 tailback and No. 1 player in The Boot in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. The 5-foot-10.5, 177-pounder is primed to make an immediate impact at the college level.

“This is a huge, huge win for the LSU program. It’s always important to keep Louisiana’s best players at home. He’s ranked by On3 as the No. 1 player in Louisiana, then you look at the On3 national rankings and he’s the No. 1 RB in the country, he’s comped to players like Jamaal Charles,” Dixon said.

“He’s an absolute blast to watch, he glides all over the field and is a guy — much like a Leonard Fournette — that will come in and make an immediate impact in LSU’s program. It doesn’t get any bigger than this.”

LSU poised to make push for top 2025 recruiting class

With the addition of Berry, LSU’s 2025 class now features seven commits — six of whom are blue-chippers.

Headlining the class is Duncanville (Texas) Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Dakorien Moore, the No. 4 prospect and top-ranked wideout in the cycle. Other top junior commits include Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab four-star linebacker Keylan Moses, Sulphur (La.) four-star tight end JD LaFleur and New Orleans Isidore Newman four-star interior offensive lineman Brett Bordelon.

LSU is also currently trending for Belleville (Mich.) Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking. The touted gunslinger is set to commit on Saturday at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio — and all signs are pointing to Baton Rouge.

As eyes begin to turn toward the 2025 cycle, LSU is already cementing itself as a fixture at the top of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. It could have a pledge from the top QB, RB and WR by the end of the week.