How LSU can keep adding to its 2025 defensive tackle class

Here’s how LSU can beef up its defensive line depth in the 2025 recruiting class.

Few positions are as important to LSU recruiting in 2025 than the defensive tackle spot. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] hired defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] to rebuild that room after LSU wore thin this offseason.

The 2025 class is off to a good start. Davis landed two four-stars in July, picking up commitments from [autotag]Zion Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Brown[/autotag]. But LSU won’t call it quits there, remaining involved with several uncommitted defensive tackles.

One to watch is [autotag]Walter Mathis[/autotag], a three-star out of Savannah, Georgia. The 247Sports Crystal Ball has Mathis headed to Miami, but the On3 Prediction Machine considers LSU a heavy favorite.

The 247Sports Composite rankings slate Mathis as the No. 434 ranked player in the country, placing him 49th among defensive tackles. Rivals is the highest on Mathis’ talent, giving the prospect four stars.

Another name worth remembering is [autotag]Xavier Ukponu[/autotag]. Like LSU’s two current DT commits, Ukponu is from Texas.

Schools like Arkansas, Florida, Texas and Texas A&M remain in the mix, but the On3 Prediction Machine likes LSU’s chances.

As far as longshots go, [autotag]Kevin Oatis[/autotag] is worth monitoring. He’s one of the top-ranked uncommitted defensive tackles. Out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, LSU could have a tough time prying him away from Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

LSU’s class is secure at the top, but now, the Tigers need to establish some depth. LSU wants to avoid another situation like the one this offseason, where the staff turned to the portal just to fill out numbers on the defensive line.

Signing deep classes is a way to do that.

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LSU offers 4-star defensive lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi

LSU has ventured deep into SEC enemy territory as it is trying to find another defensive lineman for its 2025 recruiting class.

LSU has ventured deep into SEC enemy territory as it is trying to find another defensive lineman for its 2025 recruiting class. They’ll have to wrangle him away from Lane Kiffin to land him.

[autotag]Kevin Oatis[/autotag] is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound, four-star defensive lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he plays for Hattiesburg High School. The Hattiesburg Tigers finished the 2022 season 7-5 with a loss to Vancleave in the first round of the 5A state playoffs.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections for Oatis at this time, but Ole Miss is a 65% favorite per On3.

Film Analysis: Oatis stars as a defensive end for the Tigers and does a great job using his hands to create separation and make plays in the backfield.

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2025 blue-chip DL prospect gets Florida offer

Billy Napier and Co. are always looking ahead to the next class as well.

Florida football dished out an offer to four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kevin Oatis[/autotag] out of Hattiesburg (Mississippi) last Wednesday after a phone meeting with a group of Gators coaches that included inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman, according to Corey Bender of Gators Online.

“I talked to the assistant D-line coach (Kali James) and also the linebackers coach. We had a great conversation,” Oatis revealed. “I called about a camp and it went from there. We talked a long time about Florida and then he called back and they wanted to offer me.”

The 6-foot-3-inch, 265-pound prep prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle has no shortage of suitors, with offers coming from the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies, Ole Miss Rebels, Auburn Tigers, Michigan Wolverines, Florida State Seminoles and Penn State Nittany Lions, to name a few.

The rising junior does not have any visits planned as of yet but Oatis is ostensibly open to a summer stop next month. In the meantime, he does seem pretty keen on the Orange and Blue.

“Florida is Florida, you know?” Oatis added. “It’s a great place to be a great school and a great program. I love how they take pass-rushing very seriously. In today’s game, pass rushing gets you paid and I love that they strive in that area.”

Oatis is ranked No. 110 overall and No. 9 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 102 and 10, respectively. Ole Miss leads the pack in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine with a 65.1% chance of landing him, followed by Texas A&M at 20.2%.

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