LSU 'in really good shape' to land in-state 4-star RB James Simon

When it comes to LSU recruiting, Brian Kelly and the Tigers are incapable of missing out on a top 2025 prospect thus far.

From No. 1 overall prospect and top quarterback Bryce Underwood, to top-ranked wide receiver Dakorien Moore, to seven blue-chip in-state commits already in the class, a stout group of athletes are currently on track to head to Baton Rouge next year.

Six of the seven recruits from The Boot are top-10 players in their home state, per the On3 Industry Ranking. The top Louisiana native on the board, as of Feb. 15, is Shreveport Calvary Baptist four-star running back James Simon. To no surprise, he too is trending towards LSU.

The 5-foot-11, 198-pounder has taken close to 10 visits to Baton Rouge throughout his recruitment. Last weekend, LSU recruiting insider Shea Dixon became the latest to log a pick in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine in favor of the Tigers landing Simon.

“I just think LSU is in really good shape right now, I won’t count out them being able to pull a rabbit out of the hat and get a commitment long before he said anything would be trimmed down or focused on just a couple of teams, because we’ve seen the do with a couple of other guys in Louisiana,” Dixon said on The Inside Scoop.

Frank Wilson, Tigers continue to land top targets in the backfield

The Tigers signed Duncanville (Texas) four-star RB Caden Durham in the 2024 class and already have a pledge from Metairie (La.) St. Martin’s five-star burner Harlem Berry, the top-ranked RB in the cycle. Things have gone to plan as of late for LSU RBs coach Frank Wilson — and the addition of Simon would continue that trend.

“Here’s the reality of where things sit: from the start, look at what Frank Wilson did when he got here, he said ‘I’m only going after one running back,’ … one guy in this 2024 class, it was Caden Durham. Durham was considered an Oklahoma lock at one point, he ends up signing with LSU. This cycle, from the start, Frank Wilson has said ‘I’m going after two guys, this one-two punch of Harlem Berry and James Simon,'” Dixon said.

Simon is the No. 189 overall prospect and No. 14 RB 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.5 player in Louisiana.

On3 ranks Berry higher than other recruiting services. He checks in at No. 123 overall and is the No. 8 RB and No. 3 player in The Boot in the 2025 On300.

“I just think things continue to trend in the right direction, and that’s before I even bring in any family ties — his dad, John Simon, is a Baton Rouge native … there’s a lot of intertwined connections between the staff and his father and then the staff recruiting his son,” Dixon said.