Jayden Anding’s commitment gave LSU another boost on the recruiting trail, but it also sharpened the picture of what still has to get done for the Tigers in this cycle.
LSU already holds a top 10 class, and with a good portion of the cycle spoken for elsewhere, the Anding addition points toward a shift in focus. The Tigers have built a strong group so far, including some of the best talent in Louisiana, but there’s still plenty of work ahead for Lane Kiffin and his staff if they want to keep climbing.
One of the biggest priorities now is holding onto the commitments already in place. Tight end Ahmad Hudson is still in the fold, but he made it clear he is not ready to shut things down, especially with Nebraska continuing to push hard to flip him. Keeping Hudson committed will matter just as much as landing new names.
At the same time, LSU is going after flip targets of its own. Kiffin and his staff have positioned themselves with several of the top 10 recruits in the country, and the next step is turning that access into real movement.
There are four names the Tigers could make a serious run at over the rest of the cycle, especially if they can get them on campus for a gameday visit: Easton Royal, Jalen Brewster, Anthony Sweeney and Julian McDonald.
Royal and Brewster stand out as the biggest swings. Royal is the No. 1 receiver in the class and a Louisiana native, and he’s drawing the strongest push from LSU’s coaching staff. Brewster, the No. 1 overall recruit in the cycle, has been more open to the Tigers lately, even though he has remained committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
If LSU can flip both, or even just one, it would say plenty about what Kiffin and his staff can do on the recruiting trail in year one in Baton Rouge.
In Other News...
Marcus Spears Son Just Delivered A Tough Recruiting Blow To LSU
Marcus Spears Jr. has been on the radar as one of the most intriguing young prospects in the country, a 6-foot-10 forward with the kind of two-way skill set that makes programs circle early and often. Originally part of the 2027 class, he has already built a reputation as a high-end talent from Texas, and his move to join Texas gives the Longhorns a major addition before he even reaches the usual point in his recruiting timeline.
For LSU, the sting is obvious because Spears Jr. carries a name that resonates strongly in Baton Rouge, where his father was a national champion and later became a prominent college football voice. The family ties make this one feel bigger than a standard recruiting miss, especially with his sister already at Texas, and his decision leaves the Tigers watching a player they had reason to believe could have been part of their future. [Read more 🡒]
The LSU Coach Who Could Make Or Break Kiffins New Era
Lane Kiffins first LSU staff is starting to take shape for 2026, and one of the more important hires is a familiar face from his past stops. Associate head coach and running backs coach Kevin Smith is back alongside Kiffin after working with him at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss, bringing a track record of helping build productive ground games and develop backs into featured pieces of the offense.
That matters in Baton Rouge because LSU is not starting from scratch at running back. Harlem Berry and Caden Durham are set to be part of the mix as the Tigers get ready for next season, and Smiths job will be to help shape that room as Kiffin begins putting his own stamp on the program. The ceiling of this era will depend on a lot of moving parts, but how quickly LSUs run game comes together could end up being one of the early indicators. [Read more 🡒]