Skip to main content
lsu logo

LSU commit Richard Anderson rises to No. 1 DL in the nation; Brice Brown talks Kyle Williams

Untitled design (1)by:Julie Boudwin•about 14 hours
Richard Anderson 1 copy 1.jpg

Edna Karr’s Richard Anderson, a dominant force in the trenches, has risen to the No. 1 defensive lineman in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

The 6-foot-4, 350-pound interior lineman has been a nightmare for opposing offenses, using his combination of strength, quickness and athleticism to wreak havoc. Anderson, affectionately known as “Big Rich,” was a key cog in Karr’s state championship run last fall, turning in an all-state junior campaign where he was downright dominant down the stretch. Last fall, he recorded 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, two interceptions, and even a touchdown. He was downright unstoppable in Karr’s title-game win of previously undefeated Alexandria in the Caesars Superdome.

“Everybody was asking did I save my best for last,” Anderson told On3 after the game. “But, you know, I just had to ball out for my seniors. Those guys have been through a lot. They’ve been there for four years, or some for three years, and still hadn’t gotten to win (a championship) yet. So I just had to play my role and do what I had to do to get the win.”

The New Orleans native has been committed to LSU since June of 2024, in fact, he was the first commitment for LSU’s 2026 recruiting cycle, and despite a recent change in the Tigers’ defensive line coaching staff, Anderson remains locked in. Bo Davis departed Baton Rouge to join Kellen Moore’s staff with the New Orleans Saints, but LSU quickly replaced him with former Tiger All-American and 13-year NFL veteran Kyle Williams. Williams, who most recently coached at Ruston High, has already met Anderson and the two clicked immediately.

“I’ll tell you what — just like I said last week — I was very impressed meeting Kyle for the first time,” Karr head coach Brice Brown said told Matt Moscona. “I went to practice this past Saturday with our defensive line coach and defensive coordinator, and I’ll tell you what, when you talk about knowledge of the game and expressing why they’re doing certain things, he can really teach it. You can see it with LSU’s defense right now — they’re playing more of an attack style, more up the field instead of down the line as much. I think that’s what really caught Richard’s attention. The coaching style and coaching technique. They want the defensive line to make plays too, and that’s been the biggest eye-opener for Richard and him re-establishing his commitment to LSU. The schemes fit him so well.”

Brown emphasized that Williams’ background as a former high school coach helps him relate to players like Anderson, giving him a unique edge in connecting with players.

“Kyle has been great. He’s a family guy, very relatable, and he knows the situation because he was a high school coach. When you think about college versus high school, high school coaches deal with so much off the field and Kyle understands that part. He knows what Richard goes through, and they hit it off from day one. It’s always good to have a pro teaching a future pro, and I think Richard has the upside of that.”

The four-star Anderson has one year left at Karr and looking to repeat as champs, but soon after that he is poised to make an immediate impact in Baton Rouge as the nation’s top defensive lineman.

You may also like