Brian Kelly, LSU Beginning To Prioritize Prospects, Visitors This Spring

LSU recruiting is heating up as spring ball nears. With offers being dished out left and right in the 2024 class, this program is retooling for the long haul.

Brian Kelly and his staff have been recruiting the South over the last few months, specifically the state of Texas, with a few visits lined up for the month of March after the recruiting dead period ends.

Offers have been handed out on both sides of the ball with priority targets emerging. On defense, 5-star menace Colin Simmons has the attention of several programs across the country, but the Tigers are certainly making their presence felt in his recruitment.

Here are a few targets who are “must-gets” in the 2024 class:

Colin Simmons - EDGE - 2024 (5-star)

Simmons, who already sits at 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, is receiving calls from virtually every Power Five program in the country. Being prioritized by a handful of SEC schools, the Tigers are looking to separate themselves from the pack.

The film on Collins doesn’t lie. Using his length and strength to his advantage, he plows through defenders at ease with tremendous technique. The quick feet he attains gives him a severe advantage in the trenches, being extremely well-developed for his age.

He’s been to campus multiple times and even got a taste of a game-like atmosphere last fall, which is a major victory for head coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers. With Jamar Cain being the primary recruiter of Simmons, he’ll be battling it out with a number of elite programs.

Caden Durham - Running Back - 2024 (4-star)

This is a big one. For LSU to get the dynamic running to Baton Rouge several times proves a significant level of interest by both parties.

The 4-star Duncanville (Tex.) back is beginning to see his recruitment blow up recently with LSU getting in on the action. Durham is teammates with Simmons out in Texas. Could the two be a package deal?

Durham, who just completed a junior campaign that ended with a state championship, is a high-priority target for LSU who thoroughly enjoyed his time in Death Valley last fall. Accompanied by a number of the top players in the South, Durham had nothing but positive things to say after the visit.

LSU clearly made an impression, but it’s still early in the process for a player who is looking to explode before his senior season. After putting the country on notice in 2022, his 2023 season has all the makings of seeing his ranking move up.

JJ Harrell - Wide Receiver - 2024 (4-star)

There aren’t many wideouts of Harrell’s caliber in the 2024 class. A physical, do it all guy, he’s at the top of LSU’s “must have” list for next year’s cycle. For LSU’s “Junior Day,” Harrell made the drive from Mississippi to Baton Rouge for a visit.

Accompanied by a number of the top players in the South, Harrell took in Tiger Stadium as his recruitment looks to take off this spring. The 4-star prospect has the size and traits Kelly’s staff is looking for in a wideout.

At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Harrell utilizes his weight well for a youngster. Closing out his junior campaign with a bang, he has the attention of the top programs in the country. Fresh off of a visit to Tennessee as well, LSU will have their work cut out for them when it comes to beating out a few SEC programs for Harrell’s talents.

The Upcoming Visits

Caden Poe - Offensive Line (2024)

The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder will get to campus for the first time as he begins navigating through his recruitment with visits set to other programs as well. LSU is recruiting the offensive line position heavily in the 2024 class, dishing out over 10 offers already.

To get a player of Poe’s caliber on campus already in early March is a major victory for this program as Brian Kelly and his Tigers begin retooling for the long haul.

George MacIntyre - Quarterback (2025)

MacIntyre is a 4-star, Top 60 prospect in the 2025 class with an offer list growing at a rapid pace as of late. The No. 1 player in Tennessee already boasts an offer sheet of over 17 programs with LSU being the latest to offer.

At 6-foot-5, 185 pounds, MacIntyre is your prototypical signal-caller in the SEC and has seen his game evolve significantly after a standout sophomore campaign. A slender frame, developing size will clearly be of the utmost importance, but from a fundamentals standpoint, the youngster showed it all in his first year starting on varsity.

MacIntyre is also a standout on the hardwood with Power Five interest in basketball. A dual-sport athlete, it shows in his footwork when in the pocket. Look for his steady rise to continue as he enters his junior season next fall with LSU beginning to get their foot in the door early.

The elite signal-caller has openly stated he would like to get to campus in March for a visit as his recruitment heats up before his junior campaign.