LSU turned its roster over in 2024. A series of exits forced [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] to rely on new faces, including a handful of true freshmen.
LSU’s 2024 recruiting class was asked to make an immediate impact at multiple spots. It was a good class, ranking No. 7 nationally. Five-stars Dominick McKinley and Trey’Dez Green headlined the group. Those two were joined by 17 four-star recruits.
Overall, LSU welcomed 29 true freshmen in 2024. Today, we’ll rank the five best.
The future looks bright for the class. Several true freshmen saw their roles increase as the season went on. It looks like a group that can provide a core for Kelly and the staff to build around. That was needed after a 2023 recruiting class full of transfers and players yet to find a role.
The bowl game offered even more promise, with young players making contributions across the board.
Here are LSU’s top five true freshmen from 2024.
5. Five-star TE Trey’Dez Green
Few freshmen in the sport shared the same hype as Green. The five-star tight end was a walking highlight reel in high school. He has elite height and speed for his position and has all the tools to be a matchup nightmare.
Green wasn’t a consistent contributor in 2024, but he impressed in the bowl game, showing up on late downs and catching two touchdowns.
Green finished the year with 19 targets, catching 13 for 101 yards with four scores. He only averaged 1.02 yards per route run and 7.8 yards per catch, but the future looks bright for the young pass catcher — at tight end or wide receiver.
4. Five-star DT Dominick McKinley
McKinley joined Green as the other five-star in LSU’s class. He didn’t enroll early and he dealt with an injury in fall camp. It was hard for McKinley to see the field right away but as he got healthy, he found his role.
He made his debut with 18 snaps in week four vs. UCLA, registering a sack. From that point on, he was a fairly consistent presence in the rotation.
McKinley’s finest moment came in the regular season finale vs. Oklahoma. He notched three pressures and two sacks. Brian Kelly called the true freshman “unblockable” that night.
With a full and healthy offseason working with defensive line coach Bo Davis, hopes are high for McKinley.
3. Four-star LB Dahvon Keys
According to PFF, Keys recorded 16 solo tackles in 2024, which led all true freshman linebackers in the SEC. He made seven stops and recorded four pressures.
Keys claimed a starting role against Florida and didn’t look back. The four-star recruit started the final four games for LSU and will enter 2025 with a good chance to hold on to the job.
The highlight of Keys’ year was a pick-six in the bowl win over Baylor. The score put LSU up 14-0 and allowed the Tigers to play with a lead the entire afternoon.
2. Three-star DT Ahmad Breaux
McKinley wasn’t the only true freshman defensive lineman to make an impact for LSU in 2024 — the Tigers got a major contribution from Ahmad Breaux too.
Breaux didn’t have the same recruiting hype as other names on this list. All four major recruiting services ranked Breaux as a three-star. On3 was the only site to rank Breaux top 20 in the state of Louisiana.
Leading up to the season, Brian Kelly said Breaux was ready to contribute — physically and mentally.
Breaux registered nine stops and five pressures in 2024, per PFF. Expect Breaux to be one of LSU’s top defenders in 2025.
1. Four-star RB Caden Durham
LSU needed a playmaker to emerge at running back and found one in the four-star from Texas.
Caden Durham’s 752 rushing yards led the SEC’s true freshman. With 261 yards through the air, Durham was present throughout the offense.
Durham forced 27 missed tackles this fall and was a threat to take it to the house on any play, including an 87-yard touchdown vs. South Alabama.
Durham will be a feature part of LSU’s offense in 2025.