Lane Kiffin’s first month at LSU has been nothing short of a recruiting blitz-and a historic one at that. The Tigers’ new head coach wasted no time making his presence felt, signing more five-star prospects in December than he did during his entire six-year run at Ole Miss. But amid the whirlwind of building a powerhouse in Baton Rouge, Kiffin took a brief detour-one that had nothing to do with purple and gold.
On Monday, he posted an Instagram story that caught the attention of fans on both coasts. The image?
A USC sweatshirt draped over a wooden stool, the Trojans’ iconic gold lettering standing out against the cardinal and white fabric. The post wasn’t about college football, though-it was a nod to his daughter, Presley, who now plays outside hitter for the USC women’s volleyball team.
The photo, tagged to USC women’s volleyball, looked like it was taken in a behind-the-scenes nutrition area, with industrial sinks and blenders in the background. It was a subtle but meaningful gesture from a father who’s currently entrenched in SEC recruiting battles but still found time to show support for his daughter’s squad out west.
Presley Kiffin is no stranger to the spotlight herself. Before heading to Los Angeles, she starred at Mater Dei, helping the program capture back-to-back CIF championships in 2023 and 2025. Her résumé also includes state and national titles in 2023, and she earned a spot on the Durango Classic All-Tournament Team in 2024-a strong start to her collegiate career.
Meanwhile, her dad has been all business in Baton Rouge. Since officially taking over on November 30, Kiffin has been relentless on the recruiting trail. The results are already turning heads: LSU’s 2026 class currently holds the highest average player rating in the country, per 247Sports, at 93.81.
That class is led by two elite in-state talents-Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson-both ranked No. 1 at their respective positions nationally. Brown, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive lineman from Baton Rouge’s University Lab, committed on December 5 after Kiffin made him a priority from day one. He had previously chosen LSU over Texas A&M back in July, and Kiffin wasted no time locking him in once he took the job.
Then came Anderson, a 6-foot-4, 335-pound force from Edna Karr in New Orleans. He just capped off his high school career with a second straight state title and is set to enroll early, arriving on campus in January for Spring Camp. Anderson is widely regarded as the top defensive tackle in the country.
At his introductory press conference, Kiffin made it clear: recruiting the best class in the country was his top priority. He cited LSU’s brand-the stadium, the logo, the tradition-as major draws for blue-chip talent. So far, he’s delivered on that promise.
Now, as Kiffin lays the foundation for what he hopes will be a championship era in Baton Rouge, he’s also balancing life as a proud dad. One running LSU football.
One playing volleyball 1,600 miles away at USC. Different schools.
Different coasts. Same competitive DNA.