The Early National Signing Period began on Wednesday. The official recruiting cycle won’t end until the second signing day in February. But top programs around the country signed the bulk of their class on Wednesday.
That includes LSU, who signed 23 prospects on Wednesday. Nobody committed to LSU was left unsigned coming out of Wednesday.
That doesn’t mean LSU’s class is complete, but there won’t be any more flips away from LSU. Tiger fans will be glad to hear that after a rough few weeks on the recruiting trail.
But on Wednesday, there was good news. LSU added another five-star to its class, flipping offensive lineman Solomon Thomas from Florida State. LSU also officially signed five-star CB DJ Pickett and RB Harlem Berry despite rival schools making strong pushes late.
Few prospects are left on the board and there isn’t much movement left this cycle. Now, LSU will turn its attention to the transfer portal to fill out the roster.
Before we get there, here are five takeaways from LSU’s 2025 high school recruiting class.
1. Help arriving in the secondary
LSU’s secondary has been inconsistent for the last five years as the Tigers struggled to maintain the talent level of the 2010s. Brian Kelly aimed to fix that with the hire of secondary coach Corey Raymond.
So far, so good. LSU DBs improved in 2024 and more help is on the way with a star-studded signing class.
Pickett leads the way. He’s the top-ranked corner in the class and one of the highest-rated defensive recruits in LSU history. He’s a guy LSU will expect to play right away.
After Pickett, you have Louisiana native and four-star Aidan Anding. On3 and 247Sports both ranking Anding as a top 200 player in the country and top 20 at his position.
The safety class is good too with Jhase Thomas and Jacob Bradford signing. LSU added CJ Jimcolly too, a safety/linebacker hybrid.
LSU’s defense is at its best when it is signing and developing all-conference defensive backs rather than dipping into the transfer portal to fill holes. LSU can build around this young core on the backend.
2. Blake Baker cleans up with the linebackers
LSU’s linebacking class may be the best in the country.
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, two of the nation’s top 10 linebackers are heading to LSU — Charles Ross and Jaiden Braker.
Ross shot up the rankings in recent months and 247Sports and Rivals view him as a top-three player at his position.
On3 and 247 both view Braker as a top 150 overall prospect.
Along with Ross and Braker, LSU signed Keylan Moses despite a late push from Texas A&M. A third Weeks brother is joining the Tigers too after Zach Weeks reclassified from 2026.
It was Baker’s first full recruiting cycle at LSU and he hit a home run.
3. Tigers yet to sign a quarterback
The biggest loss of the cycle for LSU was five-star QB and No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Underwood.
When Underwood flipped to Michigan in November, LSU was left scrambling at the quarterback position. The majority of blue-chip QBs were already committed and LSU didn’t have a backup plan.
Brian Kelly said LSU is open to signing a quarterback and the best candidate now looks to be four-star Bryce Baker, a UNC commit. With a coaching change at North Carolina, Baker delayed his signing, giving LSU a chance to get in the race.
If LSU can’t swing Baker, it will be a class without a quarterback for LSU.
4. Three five-stars is most in the Kelly era
LSU signed three five-stars on Wednesday. That was the most in the Brian Kelly era at LSU.
The Tigers signed two last year, one in 2023, and one in 2022. Yes, LSU would have liked to hold onto Underwood and five-star WR Dakorien Moore, but this is still an elite class.
Pickett, Berry, and Thomas are three of the best in the country at their respective positions. They’re capable of arriving and making immediate impacts at positions of need for LSU.
To compete at the highest level of college football, you need to add multiple five stars every year. LSU and Kelly did that here.
5. Not as Louisiana-focused as last year
In 2024, 66% of LSU’s recruiting class was from Louisiana. In 2025, that’s down to 43%. That’s not a knock, but just a descriptive stat of how LSU’s class shook out.
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, LSU signed five of the state’s top 10 players. That’s less than LSU is accustomed to.
Jahkeem Stewart, the top-ranked player in the state, took his talents to USC. LSU lost four-star Devin Harper to Ole Miss and Miami came and got four-star CB Jaboree Antoine.
LSU would have especially liked to keep Harper and Antoine. As for Stewart, the Tigers never had much of a chance as he was trending out west for weeks.