Lane Kiffin’s first recruiting run at LSU is starting to look a lot more dangerous than it did early on.
The Tigers entered the 2026 cycle with plenty of ground to make up after a slow start, and the situation around the program when Kiffin took over made an elite class even harder to build. On top of that, other schools got an early jump. But LSU has climbed into a top-15 class anyway, and the momentum is beginning to show up where it matters most: in-state talent and high-end flips.
That matters in Baton Rouge. LSU has long been built on winning the Bayou State, and Kiffin has already helped the Tigers land some of the top local names. The program is now pushing toward a top-five finish, with a few major targets still on the board who could change the shape of the class.
One of the biggest recent wins came with Karnell “Greedy” James, who flipped from Texas and gave LSU one of the top safeties in the country. That kind of move has become a calling card for Kiffin so far, and it’s the area where LSU appears to be making the most noise right now.
The Tigers are also still in the mix for two other in-state safeties: Jayden Anding, whose brother is already on the roster, and Karon Eugene.
But the biggest swing on the board is Jalen Brewster. The No. 1 recruit in the country remains a major LSU target, and the Tigers have been working hard to pull him away from his current commitment. There’s growing optimism that real progress has been made there, and if Kiffin can finish that job, LSU’s class would look a whole lot stronger - not just for this cycle, but moving forward as well.
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Paul Finebaum Just Took A Brutal Shot At Lane Kiffins LSU Future
Paul Finebaum used a lighthearted SportsCenter aside about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift to make a much sharper point about Lane Kiffins future at LSU. The ESPN analyst has long been skeptical of Kiffins staying power, and this latest jab fit a familiar theme for a coach whose stops at Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss have all fed the conversation about whether he can settle in anywhere for long.
For LSU, the timing matters because Kiffin is heading into SEC Media Days with expectations already building around the program. The Tigers have reasons to feel good about where things stand, from the roster he has assembled to the schedule ahead, but Finebaums latest swipe is another reminder that the outside noise around Kiffin never really goes away. The real test starts when LSU and Kiffin arrive in Tampa on July 20. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Lost A Major Defensive Recruiting Battle
The early 2027 recruiting board took another hit for LSU on Monday when four-star safety Davion Jones announced his commitment, adding another name to the growing list of defensive backs the Tigers will have to keep chasing. Jones, a highly regarded prospect in Rivals 2027 rankings, has been one of the more closely watched safeties in the cycle, and his decision gives South Carolina another major win in a class that is starting to build real momentum.
For LSU, the miss matters because Jones had been on the short list of elite defensive targets the staff was tracking for the future, and he was not the only heavyweight in the mix. South Carolinas class now sits at 15 commitments with Jones near the top of the group, while the Tigers will have to pivot to other options at a position where every blue-chip addition can shape the long-term depth chart. [Read more 🡒]