BREAKING: 5-star+ CB DJ Pickett commits to LSU

5-star+ cornerback prospect DJ Pickett has announced his college commitment, and the No. 1 cornerback in America is headed to LSU.

Pickett chose the Tigers over a final group that included Oregon and Miami.

It’s a massive win for LSU and secondary coach Corey Raymond, who returned to the staff in January and immediately made Pickett a top priority.

Six months later, Raymond and the Tigers secured Pickett’s verbal pledge when he announced his decision on the On3 Recruits YouTube page.

Pickett is On3’s No. 1 cornerback for the 2025 class, and he checks in as a 5-star+ prospect and the No. 3 overall prospect on On3’s rankings. Pickett checks in as a 5-star and the No. 2 cornerback and No. 6 overall prospect on the On3 Industry Rankings.

The commitment from Pickett gives LSU not just a third 5-star commitment, but a third 5-star who is ranked No. 1 at his position. LSU also has commitments from the No. 1 overall prospect in the class in 5-star+ quarterback Bryce Underwood, as well as 5-star and No. 1 running back prospect Harlem Berry.

The Tigers entered the day with a Top 5 class, and a win over Oregon and Miami boosts LSU’s impressive haul even more. Now, the Tigers are up to 17 commits, and 15 of those commits are ranked inside the On300 as either 5-star or 4-star prospects.

For Raymond, it’s a major win on the recruiting trail as LSU rebuilds the cornerback room in Baton Rouge.

“Corey Raymond,” Damien Pickett, DJ’s father, told On3, adding that the Pickett family also has a connection with LSU legend Patrick Peterson, who has been present through LSU’s recruitment of the 5-star cornerback and was in Baton Rouge for Pickett’s official visit. “The defensive backs, the history of their defensive backs. The location. Baton Rouge is in a great location, the school is. 

“Just the Corey Raymond factor. And it’s Defensive Back U. DBU. That’s a big factor for LSU. The fact they have developed so many DBs. Coach Raymond developed so many DBs at the school. The recruiting is in the pudding. There are so many greats that played at LSU. I’d say history as far as LSU.”

With Raymond back in Baton Rouge, and Pickett already familiar with LSU’s track record of defensive backs turning into NFL Draft picks, the Tigers were considered by many to be the team to beat entering the month of June. Now, LSU was able to get across the finish line as the team out front.

“I liked LSU before (Raymond) even got there, but once he left Florida and he went to LSU, it was a no-brainer to go visit and see how everything is,” Pickett said. “He said once I visit, I would love it.”

Across five visits to LSU in five months, including an official visit, Pickett said his relationship with the staff – including defensive coordinator Blake Baker – has strengthened in a big way, and he’s also become much more familiar with what the school offers outside of football.

“I learned a lot at LSU about the atmosphere. A lot of people tell you about the environment of it. It’s basically like my hometown, that’s another plus for me,” Pickett said. “It’s somewhere I feel comfortable at. At LSU, there are a lot of cool people there.”

With Raymond’s return to Baton Rouge, the mission has become to rebuild a cornerback room that has relied largely on transfer portal additions across the two seasons Raymond wasn’t recruiting the position at LSU.

As dominos continue to fall at cornerback, Raymond’s message is loud and clear to Pickett as the rebuild begins and the Tigers search for a top cornerback addition.

“I feel like they just need the right guys to come in there and change it around,” he said. “It only takes one year, then it starts rolling from there.”