LSU Football: Tigers in contention for another top recruiting class

LSU‘s recruiting class is among the best in the country in the 2026 cycle, checking in at No. 5 the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings as we close out the month of June.

The Tigers hold pledges from a pair of five-stars and eight other blue-chippers, as well as three-star offensive lineman Jalan Chapman and athlete Dezyrian Ellis. Six of their pledges project to play on the offensive side of the ball, with the other six looking to help revamp the Tigers’ defense when they come in next winter.

Wide receiver have been a particular focus, as Brian Kelly and Co. have commitments from three of the nation’s top 22 players at the position. And that’s where the gem of the class sits as well in five-star wideout Tristen Keys, who chose LSU over Ole Miss, USC, Alabama, Tennessee and dozens of others back in March.

Top-100 wideout Jabari Mack is another major piece to LSU’s wide receiver class, and he and four-star Kenny Darby both hail from inside the state’s borders. Of the Tigers’ 11 total commitments, seven are from the Boot and all rank among the state’s top 25 prospects.

In addition to Keys, LSU’s defensive staff has a future star of its own in New Orleans Edna Karr five-star Richard Anderson, who has been pledged to the Tigers for nearly a year. He recently made a huge jump in the recruiting rankings and now checks in as the country’s No. 25 prospect. On July 2, LSU beat out Florida for elite four-star EDGE Trenton Henderson.

In the secondary, the return of defensive backs coach Corey Raymond has paid early dividends. After landing Five-Star Plus+ CB DJ Pickett last cycle, Raymond has top-200 defensive backs Havon Finney, Dylan Purter and Aiden Hall in the fold in this class.

LSU’s 2026 football recruiting class by position

Wide receiver
Five-star Tristen Keys, No. 5 NATL. (No. 1 WR)
Four-star Jabari Mack, No. 60 NATL. (No. 8 WR)
Four-star Kenny Darby, No. 153 NATL. (No. 21 WR)

Offensive tackle
Four-star Brysten Martinez, No. 111 NATL. (No. 10 OT)
Four-star Emanuel Tucker, No. 204 NATL. (No. 16 OT)

Interior offensive line
Three-star Jalan Chapman, No. 829 NATL. (No. 81 IOL)

Defensive line
Five-star Richard Anderson, No. 26 NATL. (No. 1 DL)

EDGE
Four-star Trenton Henderson, No. 59 NATL. (No. 11 EDGE)

Cornerback
Four-star Havon Finney, No. 62 NATL. (No. 7 CB)

Safety
Four-star Aiden Hall No. 88 NATL. (No. 7 S)
Four-star Dylan Purter, No. 193 NATL. (No. 17 S)

Athlete
Three-star Dezyrian Ellis, No. 455 NATL. (No. 24 ATH)