Lane Kiffin hasn’t wasted any time putting his stamp on LSU Football. Since taking over in Baton Rouge, it’s been all gas, no brakes on the recruiting trail-and the results are already turning heads.
Kiffin locked down the No. 1 transfer portal class in the country, retained key pieces from last year’s roster, and signed 14 high school prospects during the Early Signing Period. Simply put, LSU is reloading, not rebuilding.
Now, Kiffin and his staff are shifting their focus to the future, and one name looms large: Mark Matthews.
The Tigers are firmly in the mix for Matthews, a 5-star offensive tackle out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.
He’s not just any recruit-he’s the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 2 overall player in the 2027 class, per 247Sports. When you watch his tape, it’s easy to see why.
Matthews combines elite size with rare athleticism, showing the kind of footwork and power that makes offensive line coaches drool. He’s the kind of foundational piece who can anchor a line for years.
LSU isn’t alone in this pursuit. The Tigers are battling it out with Oregon, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Miami for Matthews’ commitment.
He’s already taken unofficial visits to several of those programs, including Miami, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Ohio State during the fall. He also made stops at Florida, Florida State, and Nebraska earlier in the year.
With official visit season approaching fast, the race is heating up-and LSU is very much in the thick of it.
For Tiger fans, the excitement is justified. After a 2025 season where the offensive line struggled to find consistency, Kiffin made it a priority to overhaul the unit.
The crown jewel of that effort? Jordan Seaton, a 5-star transfer from Colorado and the top-ranked offensive lineman in the portal, according to On3.
Seaton brings instant credibility and a nasty streak that LSU’s front five sorely needed.
Kiffin’s early moves on the recruiting trail haven’t just been about plugging holes-they’ve been about building a long-term foundation. The 2027 class already features two blue-chip prospects: 4-star edge rusher Jaiden Bryant and 4-star quarterback Peyton Houston. Adding Matthews to that group would be a statement-both to recruits and to the rest of the SEC-that LSU is serious about dominating in the trenches.
We’re still months away from National Signing Day, but the groundwork is being laid now. With Kiffin’s track record of offensive success and his aggressive approach to roster building, LSU is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing programs to watch in the recruiting landscape.
If Kiffin can land Matthews, it won’t just be another big win-it could be the kind of move that sets the tone for a new era of Tiger football.