No. 2 Linebacker in America, LSU Football Signee Charles Ross Enrolling Early

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers reeled in a commitment from fast-rising linebacker Charles Ross in early March after the program turned up the heat for his services.

After a visit to Baton Rouge, Ross ultimately shut down his process and revealed a verbal commitment to the Bayou Bengals.

It was his relationship with LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker that sealed the deal down the stretch.

“Coach Baker has been an inspiration. We communicate on a regular basis,” Ross told On3 Sports. “Our relationship has grown from him being a recruiter to him becoming a mentor to me.”

Then, after being committed to the program for nearly 10 months, LSU saw Ross put pen to paper with the program on National Signing day to make things official.

Now, Ross is a Tiger where he will lace up his cleats for the 2025 season in Baton Rouge.

But Kelly and the LSU staff will get a look at Ross sooner rather than later.

The No. 2 ranked linebacker in America confirmed with LSU Tigers On SI that he will be enrolling in January and taking part in spring camp as an early enrollee with the program.

Ross skyrocketed up the recruiting rankings throughout the year. He committed to the program as a fringe Top 50 linebacker in the country before ultimately seeing his status cruise up to the No. 2 linebacker in the 2025 Recruiting Class.

Now, Ross will join double-digit 2025 signees that will enroll early with the program and make their way to Baton Rouge in January.

Who else will be in Death Valley? There are three key names to keep tabs on:

Three Impactful Signees Set to Enroll Early:

DJ Pickett: No. 1 Cornerback in America

LSU was in dire need of a young, impactful cornerback to make his way to Baton Rouge in the 2025 Recruiting Class with Corey Raymond spearheading the push.

Now, he's landed his "big fish" with DJ Pickett joining the program.

Pickett, the Tigers' top-ranked signee in the 2025 Recruiting Class, chose LSU over Miami, Oregon and Georgia during his recruitment process.

It was a battle down the stretch in order to secure the coveted prospect. A player with the top programs in the country battling for his services, LSU proved they were willing to do anything in their power to lock him down and get him to campus.

Kelly has raved about the youngster and what he's set to provide the program moving forward. He projects as a player that will make an instant impact for the Tigers.

"Watching a guy on film move that way (with his height) was what really surprised me about him," Kelly said on National Signing Day. "I don't even know if it's an argument. We believe he's hands-down the best corner in the country.

"I don't know that I've ever felt that there is a lockdown corner, but he's about as close as there is to a lockdown corner in the country. And his offensive film might be as good, if not better."

Now, 6-foot-4, 180-pound defensive back has arrived in Baton Rouge after making his way to campus as an early-enrollee last weekend.

Pickett took the field with the Tigers for the first time on Monday where he's participating in bowl preparation with the program.

#LSU signed the No. 1 CB in America in early December: DJ Pickett.

Now, the top-ranked defensive back in the country has already made his way to Baton Rouge to practice with the program.

Pickett is moved in and going through bowl preparation with LSU.pic.twitter.com/7q5zQshmaY
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) December 23, 2024

Pickett will be a full participant during Texas Bowl practice leading up to next week's game.

Though Pickett can practice with the team and get accustomed to a college regime, he will be unable to play in LSU's Dec. 31 Texas Bowl showdown against the Baylor Bears. Early-enrollees are ineligible for bowl games with their current squads.

Harlem Berry: No. 1 Running Back in America

Metairie (La.) St. Martin's Episcopal five-star running back Harlem Berry is Baton Rouge bound after putting pen to paper with the LSU Tigers on National Signing Day.

Berry, the No. 1 running back in America, committed to Brian Kelly and the program on Jan. 3 while remaining loyal to his pledge until the end.

He's a player that jumps off the page when looking at the numbers. Berry is one of the most decorated athletes in Louisiana history and heads to LSU as the highest-rated running back in the state since Leonard Fournette.

On Signing Day, the superlatives came rolling in for Berry with analysts simply calling him a "human highlight reel" or the "human joystick" with the way he bounces off of defenders and remains upright.

Now, the "human joystick" will prepare to be in Baton Rouge this spring where he will take part in LSU's spring camp. Berry will be an early-enrollee alongside double-digit 2025 signees.

"Before I even made the decision, I knew where I wanted to go," Berry said on Signing Day, "and once I made it, I was locked in. Nothing was going to change my mind."

Berry has proven to be big on loyalty and relationships, which paved the way for the five-star to put pen to paper with the Tigers in early December.

"I built a great relationship with (LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson)," Berry said. "All the other coaches at the other universities, I felt that they could get me where I needed to get. But it was just that connection I had with coach Frank. It was more than just football."

Carius Curne: No. 2 Interior Offensive Lineman in America

Marion (Ark.) four-star offensive lineman Carius Curne revealed a commitment to Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers in June after flipping his commitment from the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Curne, the No. 2 rated interior offensive lineman in America, backed off of his pledge to the hometown Razorbacks before joining LSU's 2025 class.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder has tremendous upside with Kelly and Co. adding a player who has immediate impact written all over him.

Curne ultimately put pen to paper with the LSU program on Dec. 4 during the Early Signing Period where he made things official with the Bayou Bengals.

It's no secret LSU's interior offensive line was an issue in 2024 with the rushing attack struggling due to a lack of push in the trenches, but reinforcements are on the way.

For the Tigers, they'll now get a better look at Curne sooner rather than later. The coveted offensive lineman confirmed with LSU Tigers On SI that he will enroll in January and be with the program for spring camp as an early-enrollee.

With Curne now in the mix, it gives LSU a prospect who can step in on day one and help the program for the foreseeable future.

More LSU News:

LSU Adds Commitments From Seven Top-100 Transfers in the Portal

LSU Dishes Out Offer to No. 1 Quarterback in America

Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a "Sleeper" Ahead of 2024 Season

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