Revisiting LSU's 2021 class, who has lived up to expectations?

LSU has had to heavily rely on the transfer portal in the first two years under Brian Kelly, but the Tigers’ head coach fully understands the importance of bringing in top-tier high school talent every year. 

In 2022, he hardly had two months to piece together a recruiting class and still ended the cycle with major contributors in Harold Perkins, Will Campbell, Emery Jones, Mason Taylor and others. In 2023, Kelly and his staff put together the No. 5 class in the country according to the On3 Industry Rankings. Recruiting has continued to be excellent under the new coaching staff.

The 2021 class was the final class of the Ed Orgeron era, a challenging time with the COVID restrictions and the struggles on the field in 2020 for LSU. Still, the class finished ranked No. 5 in the country with plenty of players to be excited about. 

Here, we’re going to take a look at the 2021 class now with two seasons and a spring camp under its belt. Who has lived up to their rating/ranking? Who still has work to do? How many have left the program? Let’s get into it.

No longer on the team

Deion Smith, 95 (rating)

Derrick Davis, 94.7

Corey Kiner, 92.6

Damarius McGhee, 92.5

Landon Jackson, 92.2

Zavier Carter, 91.2

Jack Bech, 90.3

Jalen Shead, 84.5

Of this group, Bech was the only one who was consistent for the Tigers his freshman season. Smith was excellent in spurts and Kiner showed potential, but other than that, it was not surprising that these players left so quickly. Shead lasted one day, Kiner, Smith, and Jackson left after one season, while the rest played two years before entering the portal. 

Bech’s production dipped in 2022 and he’s now at TCU where he’ll be able to compete for more playing time in his final two seasons. It’s a group of talented prospects, but ultimately most weren’t going to be long-term answers for the Tigers, making these departures not too painful.

Playing to their rating

Maason Smith, 98

Brian Thomas, 94.5

Saivion Jones, 93.7

Greg Penn, 91.3

This is a group that has lived up to their rating pretty accurately. Smith is one of the best players in the country, as every recruiting site predicted. Thomas and Jones are quality starters on a top 10 team. Then, Greg Penn may not be a starter this year, but as a low-end four star prospect, he certainly has the tools to help this team win and was fine in 2022.

As we go into year three for this group, it’s fair to say that these players still have a lot to prove, but are clearly talented enough to get even better.

Better than their rating

Garrett Nussmeier, 94.5

Garrett Dellinger, 93.7

Malik Nabers, 91.7

This is fun. Three offensive players that waited their turn and now are key figures on this team. Nabers is the top receiver at LSU, Dellinger will be a starter at guard, and Nussmeier is an upper-echelon quarterback that could still be waiting his turn behind Jayden Daniels.

Nussmeier’s rating is pretty fair, but he was ranked as the No. 12 quarterback in the class which feels low in hindsight. Dellinger was the No. 115 player in the class which also is on the lower end. Nabers was ranked as the No. 33 wide receiver (top 20 by both On3 and 247, but still) and now he’s going to be a top 10 receiver in the country.

Underachieving

Sage Ryan, 96.4

Chris Hilton, 94.8

Armoni Goodwin, 94.1

Bryce Langston, 92.7

Matthew Langlois, 89.9

Kimo Makaneole, 89.3

Peyton Todd, 82.13

The group that hasn’t quite lived up to their rating, but most have the chance to break through this season. Hilton, Goodwin, and Langlois have just been injured often in their first two seasons. I think they’re all players that play to their ratings when healthy, but that’s been their biggest issue.

Ryan was someone who I debated bumping up, but the more I thought about it, the harder it became. He was the No. 38 player in the class and the No. 2 player in LSU’s class and he’s yet to break out as a lockdown starter in the back end. Even going into year three we’re not exactly sure how good he will be as a junior.

Langston and Makaneole have been buried on the depth chart, while Todd is firmly behind Jay Bramblett again this year. Todd was the No. 1 punter in the country out of high school.

Overall, it’s a group that still has upside and has returned to LSU for the 2023 season looking to make their mark. Guys like Hilton and Ryan realizing their potential would be a huge boost for the Tigers this year.