LSU head coach Lane Kiffin isn’t just settling into Baton Rouge-he’s hitting the ground running, and then some. The Tigers’ new front man has been on a whirlwind tour across Louisiana, and on Tuesday, he was deep in the heart of Acadiana, continuing his aggressive push on the recruiting trail.
First stop: Cecilia High School in St. Martin Parish.
Kiffin, joined by LSU running backs coach Kevin Smith, linked up with Cecilia head coach Cody Champagne. While no official visit list was released, all signs point to the Tigers checking in on one of their top 2027 targets-Braylon Calais.
Calais is the kind of athlete who turns heads the moment he steps on the field. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he’s ranked as the No. 3 athlete and No. 47 overall player in the nation, per 247Sports.
He’s also considered the No. 5 player in the state of Louisiana, which makes him not just a regional priority, but a national one. LSU’s interest in Calais is no secret-and Kiffin making the trip this early in the cycle speaks volumes about how high he is on their board.
But this wasn’t just a business trip. Kiffin and Smith made time for a local flavor stop at Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins in Scott-an iconic Louisiana staple that’s as much a part of the state’s fabric as Friday night lights. Kiffin even posted a photo from the visit, continuing his trend of leaning into the culture and connecting with the community in ways that go beyond football.
Later in the day, Kiffin rolled into Acadiana High School in Youngsville, where he met with head coach Doug Dotson. No details have been released on the specific prospects he may have been there to see, but the visit itself is another sign that Kiffin is laying down roots in key recruiting territories across the state.
It’s still early in his LSU tenure, but Kiffin is already showing he understands what it takes to win in Louisiana-on and off the field. He’s not just recruiting talent; he’s recruiting trust. And with every handshake, every school visit, and every bite of boudin, he’s building the kind of foundation that could pay dividends for years to come.