LSU Football: The Latest on the Recruiting Trail
Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers may have shifted their focus to the Sept. 3 season opener against Florida State, but it hasn’t stopped this program from putting in work on the recruiting trail this month.
The Tigers secured a handful of commitments in late July and early August as the 2024 class continues taking shape, but with a handful of dominoes left on the trail, LSU is turning up the heat for a few players.
September will be a busy month for this program when it comes to both official and unofficial visits for game days, including a visit from the No. 1 athlete in America.
LSU has put together a top 2024 recruiting class, and as it continues rounding out, this program will also be developing relationships within the 2025 recruiting class.
A dive into a pair of 2024 prospects set to reveal their commitment decisions in September and a 2025 offensive lineman on LSU’s radar:
Terry Bussey - No. 1 ATH in America
Bussey will take an official visit to Baton Rouge when the Tigers host the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sept. 23.
The No. 1 athlete in the country, LSU will roll out the red carpet for one of the top players available in the 2024 class ahead of his Sept. 28 commitment decision.
LSU will battle against Texas A&M in a big way for Bussey's services. He's been crystal balled to the Aggies by experts within the industry with LSU and Texas surging for the electric athlete.
Bussey put up significant production as a dual-threat QB with 2,000-plus passing yards, 2,500-plus rushing yards, and 70-plus total TDs as a junior.
On defense, it's the same story with his production. Bussey has tallied 300 tackles and 24 INTs on defense from freshman through junior campaigns. After also adding in the handful of special teams TDs, it's clear just how electric the top athlete in the country is.
For LSU, they're looking to recruit Bussey as a defensive back as they continue retooling the secondary.
Dominick McKinley - No. 1 Player in Louisiana
Acadiana (La.) five-star defensive lineman Dominick McKinley has set his long awaited commitment date. The No. 1 player in Louisiana will reveal his college decision on Sept. 1.
McKinley will choose between several programs including LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Texas A&M.
For Brian Kelly and the Tigers, they continue their pursuit of the coveted defensive lineman, and after getting McKinley and his family down to Baton Rouge for the Bayou Splash recruiting event, they’re beginning to make some noise, but Texas and Ohio State remain serious threats.
LSU has been playing catch up in McKinley’s recruitment. A player who’s taken his fair share of visits across the country, there are a handful of top programs battling for his services, but the Tigers are throwing their punches as well.
Kelly and Co. are looking to make history on the recruiting trail and McKinley could play a major part in that.
As it stands, the Tigers have secured commitments from eight of Louisiana’s top 10 prospects with McKinley and four-star defensive back Wardell Mack being the two who remain uncommitted or pledged elsewhere.
When it comes to Mack, he’s verbally committed to the Florida Gators, but this program will be fighting for his services until December.
For McKinley, he’s kept his recruitment process close to the vest, but with a decision date now locked in, the Tigers will certainly turn up the heat in a big way as they continue their push for the No. 1 player in Louisiana.
Devin Harper - 2025 Four-Star OL
Harper is quickly making a name for himself on the recruiting trail with LSU getting in on the action early. A rising junior, Harper is now seeing the top SEC programs heat up as they battle to make their pitches.
For LSU, the Tigers sit in great position for one of Louisiana’s Top 10 prospects. A player who has already been seen repping LSU gear during scrimmages ahead of his 2023 season, Harper could be trending the Tigers way, but it’s a long way out for him.
We could see him shut his recruitment process down, but a player who won’t put pen to paper until December of 2024, it’s a long term plan for the Tigers as they look to continue separating themselves from the competition.
Harper has reeled in offers from LSU, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma, among others as his process heats up in a big way.
