LSU continuing pursuit of Texas A&M flip targets

LSU has acquired some major momentum on the recruiting trail as the Early Signing Period continues to edge closer. Part of that success for Brian Kelly and the Tigers has been at the expense of Texas A&M.

One of the biggest flips of the 2024 cycle occurred on Oct. 26, when Beaumont (Texas) United five-star offensive tackle Weston Davis flipped to LSU from the in-state Aggies. The acquisition flung the Tigers into the top 10 of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.

A&M’s class still currently ranks higher than LSU’s, but Kelly and Co. aren’t done trying to poach prospects away from Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies. There are multiple targets that remain in the crosshairs of LSU that are currently committed to A&M or recently decommitted.

The two teams will square off at the end of the season in Baton Rouge. The matchup will carry implications for the 2023 postseason hopes of each team, as well as potential implications for where recruits land come December.

“The most important thing for LSU right now is winning out,” LSU insider Shea Dixon said on The Inside Scoop. “They’ve got three games left, all at home, two of them being SEC games. That Texas A&M game at the end of the season…if you win out, you’re at nine wins, you’ve got a chance to go back-to-back 10-win seasons. When you look at the trajectory that A&M’s on — and who knows what their season holds. They are trending in different directions. I think that’s important in recruiting.”

“Growing optimism” LSU can flip in-state 4-star DL Gabriel Reliford

Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian Academy four-star defensive lineman Gabriel Reliford committed to Texas A&M on June 27 with LSU not even in the picture. That changed later in the summer, as the Tigers offered and have since had him on campus multiple times.

The in-state factor is clear to see, but the USC Trojans are also making a push for the blue-chipper and even got Reliford out to California for an official visit last weekend. However, he’s expected to make it back to Baton Rouge for that LSU-A&M clash.

“They’ve already flipped Weston Davis, a five-star, who else can they get? Reliford is the big name in Louisiana. They need D-linemen, he’s been committed to A&M, but LSU came with an offer,” Dixon said. “He’ll be at that game, he still has an official visit left in his back pocket, so there’s some growing optimism on LSU’s side that they can pull that one off.”

Reliford is the No. 24 DL and the No. 7 player in The Boot in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

LSU still in pursuit of elite ATH Terry Bussey

It was no surprise when Timpson (Texas) five-star athlete Terry Bussey committed to Texas A&M on Sept. 28. The elite Lone Star State product was favored to wind up in College Station for a majority of his recruitment, despite frequent pushes made by LSU and others.

Even still, the Tigers haven’t let up in their pursuit. LSU has had Bussey on campus three times, including an official visit right before his pledge to A&M, as well as his first visit following his commitment. He too is expected to make it to Tiger Stadium for the end-of-season clash — a game that could potentially swing things in favor of LSU if it were to pull off the win.

“The same with a guy like Terry Bussey. Now granted, he’s in Texas. Forever he had been considered an A&M lean, but not far after, when he committed to A&M, he was on LSU’s campus two weeks later for the Auburn game,” Dixon said. “It does look like Bussey will be in town for that LSU-A&M game at the end of the year, so boy will the implications be big if they could see a win for LSU in Tiger Stadium.”

Bussey is A&M’s second highest-ranked pledge in its 2024 class, checking in as the No. 22 prospect and No. 2 athlete in the cycle. He would become the headliner of LSU’s pledge list if he were to flip.

Tigers in the mix for former A&M pledge 4-star WR Dre’lon Miller

LSU remains a contender for Silsbee (Texas) four-star wide receiver Dre’lon Miller, who decommitted from A&M on Oct. 17. The Tigers were immediately mentioned as a landing spot once the 5-foot-11.5, 200-pounder was back on the board, though other competitors have since emerged, including Deion Sanders and Colorado.

Miller is taking his time and utilizing his visits before making another pledge. After making his way to Boulder to see the Buffaloes, stops with A&M, USC and LSU are all on the table. Like Reliford and Bussey, capping off a season’s worth of game visits with a showdown between two top schools in a recruitment can be game-changing.

LSU’s 2024 class currently features three wideout commits. If Miller were to join the fold, the No. 79 overall prospect and No. 16 WR in the cycle would be the highest-ranked pledge at the position and the third-highest pledge overall.

“He decommitted from A&M right after visiting LSU and there was buzz that he would immediately shut it down,” Dixon said. “We know Ole Miss flirted around trying to get him to campus, but he’s already returned to College Station, he was at Colorado, he’ll be at USC in two weekends, looks like he’ll be back in College Station this weekend, then wrap it up with that LSU game in Tiger Stadium against A&M. You’ve got a lot of moving pieces right here. LSU does have one spot at receiver available, does he grab it?”