The recruiting calendar may have slowed down for a moment, but the noise around LSU certainly hasn’t. Two of the state’s biggest names - five-star wide receiver Easton Royal and five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson - are suddenly giving Tigers fans plenty to watch as the season approaches.
Royal’s next moves are the kind of schedule that can swing a recruitment. The Brother Martin standout in New Orleans has locked in game-day visits to LSU on Sept.
5, Texas on Sept. 12, and Florida on Sept. 26.
He also plans to be back in Baton Rouge on Nov. 14 when the Longhorns come to Tiger Stadium.
That’s a significant setup for LSU, which wants as many chances as possible to get time with him. Royal is currently committed to Texas, but he’s still taking a close look at the full picture before making a final decision. He’s widely regarded by recruiting analysts as the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2027 class, and LSU’s push makes sense for two obvious reasons: he’s the top receiver in the country, and he’s an hour and 15 minutes down I-10 East from Baton Rouge.
Royal told Rivals after his official visits, “It’s tighter than ever,” Royal told Rivals on the race between LSU, Florida, and Texas after his official visits.
“It’s something to definitely lose sleep about. I’m just really trying to make sure that the decision I make is for all of the right reasons, and it makes sense for me and also my family. Trying to make sure this decision sets me up for life after ball as well.”
His timeline remains fluid. Reports indicate he won’t make his final call until sometime during the season, with National Signing Day on Dec. 4 the latest possible finish line. That leaves LSU, Florida and Texas all waiting to see whether he stays with the Longhorns or changes course.
Hudson, meanwhile, has become a different kind of talking point for LSU fans. The 5-star tight end commit drew attention after comments in a report from On3’s Nebraska site, Inside Nebraska, started circulating widely.
“The program you wouldn’t expect to be doing their job to try and get me to come there, is doing what they need to do,” Hudson said. “The program you most expect it from is not doing what they need to do.”
The comments created a wave of discussion, though LSU’s football staff has reportedly stayed in constant communication with him. The more interesting wrinkle is that Nebraska’s interest appears to be coming from multiple directions, with basketball coach Fred Hoiberg in contact as well as football coach Matt Rhule.
LSU’s own basketball situation adds another layer. The program just brought back Will Wade, and the two met in June, but Wade has been focused on putting together this year’s roster. As the report notes, LSU has more coaches than players right now.
Still, Hudson is expected to remain a major priority once fall arrives, with Wade and his staff likely to be heavily involved in his recruitment moving forward.
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LSU Freshmen Are Already Turning Up The Heat In Fall Camp
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Freshman defensive end Lamar Brown was among the players drawing attention with notable plays, and freshman Jhase Thomas has already moved into a starting role at safety ahead of junior Tamarcus Cooley. There is still plenty of camp left, of course, and the backup quarterback race remains a work in progress as Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark keep trying to clean up their accuracy, but LSU is already getting an early glimpse of how quickly some newcomers can push their way into the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Former LSU Star Suddenly Enters A Troubling Saints Defensive Situation
The Saints have added a familiar LSU name to a defense that has been forced to keep adjusting. Deion Jones, once a Pro Bowl linebacker with the Falcons and a former Tigers standout, has resurfaced in New Orleans after spending his career moving through all four NFC South teams, a reminder of how much experience can matter when a unit is trying to steady itself.
For LSU fans, Jones path is another example of a player whose roots in Baton Rouge still follow him around the league. For the Saints, the timing is what stands out most, with recent injuries and roster shuffling leaving the defense in need of help and more changes still looming as the team works through the next phase of its lineup decisions. [Read more 🡒]