LSU rarely lets elite talent leave Louisiana. When there’s a five-star in the boot, more often than not, they end up at LSU.
Last year, LSU signed [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag]. Both five stars and the two best players the state had to offer.
LSU is hoping to do the same in 2025. The Tigers already have two of Louisiana’s top three players committed, but DL [autotag]Jahkeem Stewart[/autotag] remains on the board.
Stewart was previously the top-ranked overall prospect in the class of 2026 before reclassifying to 2025. Still, Stewart is a “can’t miss” prospect. If you saw how LSU looked up front in the loss to Alabama, you saw why LSU needs a guy like Stewart.
The transfer portal is nice, but the most effective way to build an elite defensive line is to get blue-chip players in at the high school level and develop those guys. LSU hasn’t done that in recent years.
Even the Tigers’ best pass rusher now, Bradyn Swinson, is a transfer. You won’t find five Swinson’s in the portal, which makes it critical to land talent right out of high school.
Stewart is far from an LSU lock. The On3 Prediction Machine still has LSU in front of Oregon, Ohio State, and USC. But if I was taking LSU or the field, I’d take the field.
Stewart was on campus for the Alabama game. Prior to the visit, On3 wrote LSU “had some ground to make up.”
The momentum doesn’t seem to be in LSU’s favor with this one, but at the end of the day, Stewart is a top prospect out of New Orleans and that always gives LSU a chance.
But I don’t think LSU fans should feel great about this one right now.
Brian Kelly’s staff has recruited Louisiana in his time at LSU so missing out on Stewart shouldn’t defined Kelly’s efforts in Louisiana, but it would reflect poorly on LSU if it can’t close out on an elite prospect at a position of need.
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