LSU Football Recruiting: 2025 class breakdown

Brian Kelly and his football staff have proven their recruiting chops at LSU, building consecutive top-10 classes during his first two years.

The 2025 class has very strong potential to be the best yet, with a loaded group of in-state prospects in Louisiana and key targets and commitments throughout the SEC footprint. As we head into the final week of October, the Tigers have 27 pledges and a class that ranks No. 3 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

LSU Class Breakdown

Of LSU’s 27 commitments, 20 check in as blue-chip prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking. The class features three five-stars (QB Bryce Underwood, CB DJ Pickett and RB Harlem Berry) and 17 four-star prospects. The Tigers got off to a hot start early, but continued to add to their class this summer. In June, four-stars Jesse Harrold and Carius Curne put their names on the commitment list. July saw the additions of four-star defensive linemen Brandon Brown, Damien Shanklin and Zion Williams as well as On300 cornerback Jhase Thomas in the first half of the month.

Not long after, defensive backs coach Corey Raymond pulled off a massive win by beating Oregon and Miami for Pickett, the nation’s No. 2 cornerback. And three days later, the Tigers held off Notre to land elite wide receiver target Derek Meadows out of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman.

August was kind to Kelly and Co. as well, with six more commitments headlined by flipping four-star cornerback Kade Phillips, a top-75 prospect in the class, according to On3.

10 of the 25 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.

Top LSU Offensive Commit: QB Bryce Underwood

Kelly and co-offensive coordinator Joe Sloan pulled off a major recruiting coup in January by landing Underwood, a Five-Star Plus+ quarterback and the No. 1 overall recruit in the class. The Belleville (Mich.) star committed to the Tigers over Michigan, Alabama, Colorado and dozen of other offers.

On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about him as a prospect:

“The early top quarterback prospect in the 2025 cycle. A top arm talent and plus athlete who is among the more physically-gifted quarterback prospects in recent cycles. Measured at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds with a 10-inch hand the spring after his sophomore season. Owns a big-time arm with the ability to drive the ball with velocity to all levels of the field. Throws a very tight spiral that amplifies the velocity on the tail of his passes. Has shown advanced nuance and skill as a passer early on. Comfortable delivering over the middle of the field from within the pocket. Consistently sticks the ball on receivers against tight coverage. Shows the ability to layer passes with touch and high-level location.

… Doubles as a run threat with the ability to make defenders miss and pull away at the second level. Has a 27-1 record as as a starter over the first two years of his high school career, leading his school to back-to-back state titles. Completed 65% of his passes for 2,751 yards and 37 touchdowns as a sophomore. Also rushed for 642 yards and eight scores. Very young for the cycle with an August birthday and could technically be a 2026 prospect. Has considerable physical upside and room for continued growth.”

Top Tigers Defensive Commit: CB DJ Pickett

LSU was thought to be a strong contender — if not the leader — for Pickett throughout the spring and early summer. Late pushes from Oregon and Miami seemed to push those schools to the top, with predictions even going in favor of the Ducks. But when it came time to make a decision, Pickett chose the LSU hat on the table.

“The deciding factor was him being happy,” Pickett’s father Damien told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “Where he’s happy on and off the field. Where he can grow as a young man.

“It was mostly football based but also where he feels he can excel in the classroom and do the things in the classroom.”

As a junior, Pickett turned 52 receptions into 1,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. He had 31 tackles and an interception. The year prior, Pickett hauled in 43 passes for 886 yards and 12 touchdowns with 39 tackles, four interceptions and three more passes defended.