LSU secures a commitment from blue-chip WR Derek Meadows

Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman On300 receiver Derek Meadows announced his commitment to head coach Brian Kelly and LSU on Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound blue-chip pass catcher chose the Tigers over his other finalists in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame.

Tabbed by the On3 Industry as the No. 1 recruit in Nevada, No. 7 receiver in the country and No. 41 prospect overall, Meadows visited LSU in April and returned in June for his official. 

Cortez Hankton led the charge in recruiting Meadows to Baton Rouge with offensive coordinator Joe Sloan heavily involved. His father DeShawn raved about the opportunity the Tigers presented his son during the process.

“Their receivers coach played in the pros,” the elder Meadows said. “He has a pretty good idea how to build a wide receiver as you see from history. I like their attitude. The way they run practice, it’s very quick, very firm, making sure everyone is running from point to point. 

“Definitely the environment. They’re a family over there. It’s a great family environment.”

Meadows becomes commit No. 18 for LSU in the 2025 cycle, joining a class that On3 ranked No. 3 nationally prior to his pledge. He is the second receiver in the fold alongside fellow four-star TaRon Francis. Meadows is the fourth Top 50 prospect to headline the class following the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, the country’s No. 2 cornerback DJ Pickett and the No. 1 running back in the land Harlem Berry.

LSU surged in this recruitment during the summer

Meadows planned to commit to LSU on July 13 but pushed it back a week after final pushes from his other favorites. In the end it was still the Bayou Bengals for the coveted pass-catcher.

“They throw the ball,” DeShawn said. “The food is awesome. And we have a lot of ties with people in that organization. Just through the head coach Brian Kelly coached against me when I played football in college when he was at Grand Valley State. Their head of education for the football department he’s close to one of Derek’s best friends who is also one of my oldest son’s best friends. We have a lot of connections to that school.”

Meadows looks forward to playing with Underwood.

“Bryce Underwood is definitely a factor,” the elder Meadows said. “He comes from my old state of Michigan. Got a chance to meet him at the Nike the Next Ones. He’s a nice young man and he has a rocket for an arm. It definitely helps.”

En route to a state title as a junior Meadows turned 15 receptions into 391 yards and eight touchdowns for the high school national champs. He was also the 2023 Gatorade Nevada boys track and field athlete of the year, as he won the Class 5A state title in the 300-meter hurdles (36.73) and ran a leg in the Bishop Gorman’s winning 4×400 relay team.