Ruston High safety Jayden Anding has made his college choice, and LSU is the destination.
The 4-star recruit verbally committed to the Tigers before the end of his senior season, giving LSU another major addition from the Ruston pipeline. Anding said the decision came down to the connection he built with the staff and the way the program made him feel from the start.
“A lot went into my decision, but at the end of the day, LSU just felt like home,” Anding said. “The relationships I built with the coaches were a big part of it. They believed in me from the beginning and showed me how I’d fit into their program.”
Anding, who is 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, was a big part of Ruston’s run to the LHSAA Non-Select Division I state championship game last fall. As a junior, he finished with 49 tackles, three pass breakups, a fumble recovery and three interceptions, with two of those picks going back for touchdowns.
His offer sheet reflected that production. Along with LSU, Anding had drawn interest from schools including Oklahoma, Miami, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, which finished as the runner-up in his decision.
He also pointed to the appeal of staying close to home and playing in the SEC.
“Being able to play in Death Valley, compete in the SEC and stay close to home also meant a lot to me,” Anding said. “I feel like LSU gives me the best opportunity to grow as a player, as a student and as a person. So, it was the right place for me.”
Anding is the second member of Ruston’s 2027 class to land with LSU, joining tight end Ahmad Hudson in coach Lane Kiffin’s fold.
As for the summer, Anding says football will keep him plenty occupied.
“I’ll be chilling most of the time,” he said. “I don’t really go anywhere - too busy.”
In Other News...
Sam Leavitt Could Be The LSU Quarterback Fans Have Been Waiting For
Sam Leavitt arrives at LSU with the kind of resume that makes a quarterback room feel different the moment he steps into it. After stops at Michigan State and Arizona State, he brings real game experience and the sort of dual-threat production that can change how an offense looks under Lane Kiffin, who is expected to lean on him heavily as the Tigers try to raise their ceiling.
The bigger picture is what makes Leavitt so intriguing for LSU fans. He is already being talked about as a 2026 Heisman candidate, and the schedule offers a stage built for that kind of rise, with early marquee games that will put him in the spotlight right away. If he can turn those chances into the kind of plays that travel, the conversation around LSUs offense could get loud in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Jayce Brown Just Gave LSU Fans A Wild Glimpse Of Kiffins Offense
Jayce Brown is already giving LSU fans a reason to pay attention to Lane Kiffins offseason work, even before the Tigers have taken a snap under their new coach. The former Kansas State wide receiver has been training with LSU this spring, and his arrival comes with the kind of track record that makes him more than just another transfer body in the room. Over three seasons, Brown built a reputation as a productive pass catcher, and LSU is clearly hoping that experience translates quickly in a new offense.
What has stood out most, though, is the speed element that Kiffins system tends to lean into. Brown shared a workout update on social media that offered a glimpse of just how explosive he can be, the kind of number that turns a routine offseason clip into a talking point around Baton Rouge. For a team adjusting to a new playbook and looking for playmakers who can stretch defenses, Browns early buzz is exactly the sort of development that keeps the spring interesting. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Gives Bert Jones And No 7 A Place In Tiger Stadium History
Bert Jones is finally getting a permanent place in Tiger Stadium history, with LSU announcing that his No. 7 jersey will be retired on Nov. 14 when Texas comes to Baton Rouge. Jones was the first all-America quarterback in LSU history, a distinction that helped make him one of the defining players of his era in purple and gold.
His number will join the other retired jerseys already displayed at Tiger Stadium, a fitting tribute to a career that stretched well beyond college. Jones went on to become the No. 2 overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft and later earned NFL MVP honors with the Colts in 1976, adding another layer to a legacy LSU has now chosen to honor in a very visible way. [Read more 🡒]