Elite WR Calvin Russell takes spring visit to LSU

There’s still a ways to go in the recruitment of Opa Locka (Fla.) Northwestern four-star wide receiver Calvin Russell. At the beginning of March, he named his top 12 schools and is planning to see as many campuses as he can before dwindling that list further.

LSU is in the mix for the pass-catcher and Russell made his way down to Baton Rouge for a spring visit over the weekend. On Monday, he posted a photo on X alongside head coach Brian Kelly:

🐯 pic.twitter.com/gAieFHy6q0

— Calvin Russell Dual Sport Ath (@14gump_) March 24, 2025

The Tigers are “high on the list” for Russell, but so are the other 11 programs fighting for his pledge. Separating from the pack will be hard, but the 6-foot-5.5, 190-pounder is doing his part by seeing as many schools and coaches as possible. Miami, Syracuse, Florida State, Georgia and Florida are among those fighting at the top.

On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons provided the latest intel on Russell’s recruitment earlier this month:

“He has connections to the program and it is in his backyard. Syracuse is trending and they are toward the top of his list,” Simmons wrote. “Florida State and Georgia are two others Russell talks a lot that are on the list. He plans to take official visits to all four of those schools. Russell is still working to set up unofficial and official visits for the coming months, but we like Miami and Syracuse as the top schools heading into the spring with the Orange having a little more buzz around it.”

Russell is the No. 43 overall prospect and No. 5 WR in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 player in Florida.

Playing under head coach Teddy Bridgewater last season, Russell acquired 18 touchdowns as Northwestern bulldozed its way to a state title. The Bulls went 14-2 and finished the year as the No. 6 team in Florida, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

LSU has No. 1 recruiting class in the nation

March has treated LSU well in regards to wide receiver recruiting in the 2026 cycle. After landing a pledge from Hattiesburg (Miss.) five-star Tristen Keys, the No. 1 WR in the nation, the Tigers jumped up to No. 1 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Keys pledged on March 19 and was followed by New Orleans Destrehan four-star WR Jabari Mack, the No. 11 WR in the cycle, three days later. The class now features nine commits, five of whom are top-100 overall prospects.

New Orleans Edna Karr four-star defensive lineman Richard Anderson and Edna Karr four-star safety Aiden Hall are the No. 29 and No. 55 overall prospects, respectively. Anderson was the first to commit last June, with Hall following in August. Anderson is the top-ranked DL in the cycle, while Hall checks in as the No. 5 safety.

Keys is the lone out-of-state prospect in the LSU class thus far. Gonzales (La.) East Ascension four-star offensive tackle Brysten Martinez is the No. 92 recruit and No. 8 OT overall. He joined the fold on Feb. 13 last month.

The Tigers now have a trio of receivers in the class, too, as Keys flanks Bossier City (La.) Airline four-star WR Kenny Darby, a top-150 recruit and top-25 player at the position, as well as New Orleans McDonogh 35 four-star WR Jakai Anderson.

New Orleans Warren Easton three-star interior offensive lineman Jalan Chapman rounds out the class. To date, five of the top-10 in-state prospects in the cycle are committed to the Tigers.