LSU Recruiting Roundup: The Latest From a Busy Weekend on "The Trail"
LSU football has wrapped up an eventful weekend on the recruiting trail after hosting several official visitors to Baton Rouge.
Brian Kelly and Co. brought in five-star defensive line commitment Dominick McKinley and a pair of 2024 signees, but it didn't stop there. The Tigers also hosted a Top 5 Transfer Portal wide receiver.
Now, the dust is beginning to settle on a busy stretch.
More on an eventful weekend in Death Valley:
The Commitment: WR CJ Daniels - Liberty
Daniels, who's been wined and dined by the top programs in America since entering the portal, announced his commitment to LSU after an official visit on Friday.
He had visited the likes of Texas and Oregon, among others, with the Bayou Bengals making a splash on Friday.
Daniels tallied 55 catches for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2023 season for the Flames on his way to a breakout season.
In four years, Daniels has logged 106 catches for 1,954 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Before the 2023 season, his previous high in receiving yards was 2021 when he caught 37 passes for 629 yards and seven touchdowns. He'a also taken reps as a punt returner as well during his time with Liberty.
Now, the Tigers add another impressive talent through the free agency market. A wide receiver unit that has no shortage of weapons, Daniels adds another element for the 2024 season.
The 5-Star Visitor: DL Dominick McKinley
Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers reeled in a commitment from five-star defensive lineman Dominick McKinley on New Year's Eve after successfully flipping the former Texas A&M pledge.
Now, the No. 1 player in Louisiana is a Tiger after a hard push from Kelly and Co. over the last few months.
The LSU staff had been working on McKinley for months, looking to lock in an official visit, and have now wrapped it up.
With the commitment of McKinley last month, the Bayou Bengals have secured pledges from 11 of Louisiana's Top 12 players. A notable feat, LSU remains active in recruiting the Bayou State.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pounder provided the Tigers with a huge addition to the defensive line for the future. Kelly and the Tigers remained in pursuit of the top player in Louisiana, landing his pledge before the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve.
* McKinley was accompanied by new LSU DL coach Bo Davis on the trip. Afterwards, he solidified his commitment, confirming that he will be signing with LSU in February. *
The Official Visiting Signees: Caden Durham + Xavier Atkins
Caden Durham: The Breakdown
Elite Speed
Durham will be a two-sport athlete in the purple and gold after signing with the Tigers. Along with being the next running back in Baton Rouge, Durham will also compete in track for one of the top programs in the country.
It’s his elite-level speed that makes him so difficult to take down in open space with the ball in his hands and it’s shown against some of the top talent in the country.
Duncanville plays a rigorous schedule and Durham routinely handles business due to his speed and elusiveness with the football.
The top end speed of his is what makes him such a force. The balance of speed and strength Durham attains gives defenses fits, and after leading Duncanville to back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023, LSU’s latest signee put the offense on his back to take home some hardware.
Power, Versatility
Durham can be a three-down back for the Tigers and it was one of the reasons he decided to take his talents to Baton Rouge. The plan Frank Wilson put in place was one that Durham felt could come to fruition if he made the move.
The versatility the four-star back attains is a piece of his game that offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has to be salivating over.
He can catch the ball out of the backfield and turn up field in the blink of an eye but he can also use his strength to bounce off of defenders when running downfield.
Durham can make an impact sooner rather than later for the Tigers given his unique skill set as a running back. The Tigers may have significant depth with this position group, but adding Durham to the mix makes them that much more lethal moving forward.
The Future
LSU brought in two four-star freshmen in the 2023 class: Kaleb Jackson and Trey Holly. The pair of youngsters have different play styles, but moving forward, they will be key in what this running back room does long term.
Factor in the addition of Durham in the 2024 class and this position group is certainly built to compete in the SEC. With a variation of skill sets and young guys with the physical make up to play early, running backs coach Frank Wilson has done an excellent job in building up his group moving forward.
Xavier Atkins: The Bio
A 4-star linebacker prospect from Summer Creek High School in Humble, Texas … Originally from Jonesboro, La. … Moved to Houston in early 2023 … Listed as the nation’s No. 26 linebacker prospect and No. 49 overall in the state of Texas … Ranked as high as the nation’s No. 10 linebacker by Rivals … Finalists for the 2024 Mr. Texas Football … Helped team to a 14-2 record and a berth in the UIL Texas Class 6A Division II Championship Game as a senior …. Racked up 102 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles … Played first three years of high school football at Jonesboro-Hodge High School in north Louisiana … As a sophomore, had 218 tackles, 28.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 13 games … Coached by Kenny Harrison.
