Tag: dj pickett

Top LSU target DJ Pickett narrows decision to 3 schools, Tigers in the mix

Top LSU cornerback target DJ Pickett trimmed his list to three schools, keeping the Tigers in the mix.

Few prospects are higher on LSU’s board than five-star cornerback [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag]. LSU hired [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] to land prospects of Pickett’s caliber and rebuild a secondary that’s experienced volatility since [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] arrived at LSU.

According to On3, Pickett has trimmed his list to three schools, removing Georgia from the equation.

That’s not necessarily good or bad news, but it’s one less top school LSU has to compete with for Pickett’s services. The race is now between LSU, Oregon and Miami.

Last week, On3’s Steve Wiltfong said “If the decision was today, I’d ride with the Ducks.”

That comes as no surprise given Oregon’s heater on the recruiting trail. Dan Lanning and company recently secured a commitment from [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag], the top wide receiver in the class and a former LSU commit. LSU losing another five-star to Oregon would sting, but it’s better than a conference rival.

Still, LSU is in need of a superstar corner. It’s been a while since the Tigers landed a five-star at the position. You’d have to go back to [autotag]Eli Ricks[/autotag] in 2020.

That’s rare for a program that became accustomed to landing some of the top defensive backs in the country year after year.

LSU won a national title in 2019 behind a historic offense, but that defense had a five-star corner duo with [autotag]Derek Stingley Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kristian Fulton[/autotag]. That’s the level of talent LSU needs on the backend if it wants to compete for titles again.

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5-star CB DJ Pickett names Oregon Ducks among top schools

The Oregon Ducks landed among the top schools for 5-star cornerback DJ Pickett, who will announce his commitment on July 17th.

The Oregon Ducks could be just a matter of days away from adding another 5-star player to their already stacked 2025 recruiting class.

On Sunday morning, 5-star CB DJ Pickett named his top three schools, listing the Ducks alongside both the Miami Hurricanes and LSU Tigers. Last week, Pickett also announced that his commitment date would be on July 17th.

Pickett is rated as the No. 8 player in the 2025 class, and the No. 3 cornerback. He has been to Eugene several times over the past year, and took an official visit to Oregon last month.

The Ducks currently have a top-5 recruiting class after adding 5-star WR Dakorien Moore, and CB Dorian Brew. They could contend for the top class in the nation with another couple of big-time additions like Pickett.

Oregon is also trending and contending to land 5-star S Trey McNutt and 5-star S Jonah Williams.

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LSU rising in recruiting rankings after landing several commitments this week

LSU’s class took a tumble after some recent decommits, but it’s now on its way back up after a big week on the trail.

LSU’s 2025 class took a hit in the ratings with a couple of key recent decommitments, namely five-star receiver [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag] and four-star cornerback [autotag]Jaboree Antoine[/autotag].

It will take some time before the Tigers are pushing for the top class in the country as they were previously, but after landing a trio of commitments this week, they’re back on track.

On Thursday, they landed four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Zion Williams[/autotag], and on Friday, they flipped four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Brandon Brown[/autotag] from Texas while also securing a commitment from four-star, top-100 EDGE [autotag]Damien Shanklin[/autotag].

With those recent additions, LSU’s 15-man 2025 class is climbing back up in the rankings. It now sits at No. 4 in On3’s industry rankings and ranks No. 6 in 247Sports rankings.

The Tigers are still in the mix for a few big-time players that could boost their spot in the rankings. Five-star receiver [autotag]Jaime Ffrench[/autotag] is yet to make a decision, while five-star safety [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag] will make his decision later this month.

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5-star CB DJ Pickett sets commitment date with Oregon Ducks among top contenders

5-star cornerback DJ Pickett has announced that he will make his college commitment later this month.

The Oregon Ducks have already landed a pair of 5-star recruits in this class of 2025, and there seems to be a good chance that they pick up at least one or two more before all is said and done, if not more.

We will know the destination of one of Oregon’s top targets in a matter of weeks, with 5-star CB DJ Pickett setting his commitment date for July 17. He is down to a final four of LSU, Georgia, Miami, and Oregon, but the expectation is that both the Hurricanes and Ducks are at the front of the race.

Pickett is rated as the No. 8 player in the 2025 class, and the No. 3 cornerback. He has been to Eugene several times over the past year, and took an official visit to Oregon last month.

The Ducks currently have a top-10 recruiting class after adding 5-star CB Dorian Brew last weekend, and they could contend for the top class in the nation with another couple of big-time additions like Pickett.

Oregon is also trending and contending to land 5-star S Trey McNutt, 5-star S Jonah Williams and 5-star WR Dakorien Moore.

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LSU 5-star WR decommit Dakorien Moore spends evening with Ja’Marr Chase ahead of Tigers official visit

Ja’Marr Chase is helping the Tigers get Dakorien Moore back in the fold.

The Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class took a hit last month when five-star [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag], a Duncanville, Texas, prospect who ranks as the No. 1 receiver in America, decommitted.

Texas is now the favorite, but LSU is working overtime to get him back in the fold. Moore will be arriving in Baton Rouge for an official visit on Thursday, but first, he spent Wednesday evening with an LSU legend.

Moore was hanging with Cincinnati Bengals star wideout [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag] on Wednesday night prior to the start of his visit with the Tigers, according to On3’s Shea Dixon.

Chase isn’t the first program legend the Tigers have recently enlisted as they brought in Patrick Peterson for a busy official visit slate last weekend that featured No. 1 2025 cornerback [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag].

Moore committed to LSU back in August, and the Tigers will hope that his visit this weekend is enough to get him back in the class.

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LSU enlists Patrick Peterson to help land top-five cornerbacks during crucial visit weekend

Patrick Peterson showed up to help LSU land some top defensive back talent, including No. 1 cornerback DJ Pickett.

LSU had an eventful recruiting weekend in Baton Rouge, headlined by two of the top five cornerbacks in the 2025 cycle — [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag] (No. 1) and [autotag]Dorian Brew[/autotag] (No. 4).

If the Tigers could land one or both, it would only solidify what is already one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. And to help make that push, LSU brought in quite the ringer.

Former star cornerback and current NFL free agent [autotag]Patrick Peterson[/autotag] was in the building pitching Pickett and Brew on joining “DBU.” Pickett is the top current target on the Tigers’ board, and LSU may be the frontrunner with Oregon, Miami and Florida in the mix as well, according to LSU Country’s Zack Nagy.

Pickett and Brew were two of several five-star prospects on campus this weekend, and while LSU is still reeling from the decommitment of [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag] — who it remains in the mix for — its No. 2-ranked class could retake the top spot if this weekend proves to have been fruitful.

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LSU’s class remains in the top 2 after On3 industry rankings update

Despite the recent decommitment from Dakorien Moore, LSU’s class remains ranked No. 2 in the nation per On3.

On3 recently updated its team rankings for the 2025 recruiting class, and after a hot start, LSU remains near the top despite suffering a decommitment last month from five-star receiver [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag].

The Tigers still have a loaded class that features five-star quarterback [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag], who also ranks as the No. 1 overall player in the nation, as well as [autotag]Harlem Berry[/autotag], a five-star running back who ranks as the best at his position.

With those pieces anchoring a recruiting class that already sits at 11 commitments, On3 ranks LSU’s class second in the nation per its updated industry rankings, behind only Ohio State.

Of LSU’s 11 pledges, 10 check in as blue-chip prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking. The class features two five-stars (QB Bryce Underwood and RB Harlem Berry) and eight four-star prospects. Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Dakorien Moore decommitted in May.

Eight of the 11 future Tigers hail from the state of Louisiana, a recruiting priority for head coach Brian Kelly since he took over. In 2024, LSU signed 13 of the state’s top 17 prospects, including nine of the top 10.

Eight are projected to play on the offensive side of the ball at the next level, while cornerback Jaboree Antoine and linebackers Keylan Moses and Charles Ross represent the defense.

The Tigers are still in the mix for several top players in the class and hosted some of their top targets this weekend, including top defensive back [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag].

It will all depend on how [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and staff close things out, but LSU has the makings of a special class in the 2025 cycle.

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LSU football gearing up for crucial recruiting weekend

The Tigers are hosting quite a few blue-chippers this weekend.

LSU is already off to a strong start recruiting in the 2025 cycle, and things could be going even better depending on how this weekend plays out.

The Tigers are playing host to several big-time visitors, including multiple five-star prospects. The headliner is [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag], a top-10 recruit and the nation’s top defensive back.

In addition to Pickett, five-star receivers [autotag]Kaliq Lockett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaime Ffrench[/autotag] will be in town. The latter was previously committed to Alabama but backed off his pledge following Nick Saban’s retirement.

Rounding out the list are five-star cornerback [autotag]Dorian Brew[/autotag], five-star offensive lineman [autotag]Solomon Thomas[/autotag] — the top interior lineman in the nation who is currently committed to Florida State — and four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Zion Williams[/autotag] round out the list.

LSU already has a class that ranks in the top five nationally (fifth per 247Sports and second per On3). But if it can keep its current crop of commits in place and add a few more blue-chippers, it has the chance to be a truly special class.

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5-star LSU target DJ Pickett explains impact NIL has on recruiting decisions

LSU is hosting DJ Pickett for an official visit this weekend.

We’re exploring new frontiers in college football since the advent of name, image and likeness benefits.

We know that players are landing lucrative NIL packages, and we know that these inducements can play a substantial role in a player’s recruitment. What we don’t know, however, are all the details of how these deals are negotiated or the exact impact those negotiations have on the decision-making process.

Speaking at the On3 Elite Series, five-star defensive back [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag] — one of the top uncommitted players in the country who is taking an official visit to LSU this weekend — shed some light on that process.

“I mean, the process – I like money,” Pickett said with a laugh. “Who doesn’t want to talk about it? But it’s… a little complicated. But I’m still learning things right now. That’s where I’m at, just getting educated on things. It’s – I don’t want to say a big role. But it’s something that I would want to talk about (to understand). But at the same time, that will not be the deciding thing.”

Pickett added that navigating these waters requires some discretion, especially considering schools don’t always uphold their end of the bargain.

“It’s important because a lot of people try to mess you over on things,” Pickett said. “People in my corner are telling me what’s right and what’s wrong, that’s good.”

While it sounds like On3 won’t be the most important thing in deciding where Pickett commits to play his college ball, it’s clear that it plays a significant role in the process. With the recent settlement allowing schools to pay players directly, money will likely only become a bigger factor in high school recruiting.

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Nation’s top safety DJ Pickett sets official visit this weekend with LSU

LSU will play host to one of the top players on its 2025 board this weekend.

The LSU football team is currently assembling what could be the best high school recruiting class yet under coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] in the 2025 cycle, and it could be close to making some inroads with the top safety in the country.

On Wednesday, [autotag]DJ Pickett[/autotag] announced that he will be taking an official visit to Baton Rouge this weekend, which will begin on Friday. Pickett, a Zephyrhills (Tampa) prospect, ranks as a five-star recruit and the No. 7 player in the country by the 247Sports composite rankings, which list him as a cornerback.

There are no crystal ball projections for Pickett, but Miami is a slim favorite per On3 followed by LSU and Georgia.

[autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] has had some nice early returns since returning to LSU this offseason as the defensive backs coach. The Tigers currently hold just one defensive back commitment in four-star, top-150 cornerback [autotag]Jaboree Antoine[/autotag], but they find themselves in the mix for several more, including Pickett.

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