Visitors List: LSU Hosting Pair of Five-Star DL, Current 2024 Commits
Brian Kelly and his staff are back at it again with a star studded visitors list this weekend. With a number of the top prospects in the 2024 recruiting class making their way to Baton Rouge, it’ll be another “A-list” event in Death Valley.
LSU will host a pair of 5-star defensive linemen as they look to retool their unit up front for the long haul, but most importantly, a few current commits will be in town as Kelly’s staff looks to continue maintaining solid relationships with his guys.
Here’s a look into a few players who will be on campus this weekend:
The LSU Commits
Colin Hurley - Quarterback - 2024
The gem of the class to this point, and for the foreseeable future, will be Hurley. A two-time state champion, Hurley started for Trinity Christian as an eighth grader and led the team to a state championship. In 2021, he did it again as a freshman, this time earning accolades including FL High School Class 2A Overall Player of the Year.
He's been clocked at throwing a ball 61 mph. As a comparison, Patrick Mahomes tied the NFL Combine record in 2017 by throwing a ball 60 mph. The physical traits on Hurley are astounding at 6-foot-1, 219 pounds and already running a 4.8 40-yard dash with the arm strength and accuracy of a readymade college quarterback.
After shutting down his recruitment and committing to LSU, Hurley has been using social media to both recruit other prospects and promote the LSU brand. The visit for Hurley will be/has been a week long trip. Arriving to campus on Tuesday, he’s been in Baton Rouge all week and will stay to accompany his peers.
Zion Ferguson - Defensive Back - 2024
The Grayson High School product chose LSU over Arkansas, Auburn, North Carolina and Florida State, among others, back when he committed to Brian Kelly’s program in the fall. A key component to this recruiting class, the Tigers have their foot on the gas to hold onto one of 2024’s finest prospects.
The 6-foot, 165-pounder has all the tools to compete in the SEC with the developmental skills this coaching staff attains. Kelly has been working to develop relationships early in the 2024 cycle, clearly making an impression on Ferguson over a short period of time.
Ferguson has proven to be a threat in the secondary with his elite ball-hawking skills, but also attains soft hands to make highlight reel interceptions routinely. After a standout junior season, he’s shown he has all the tools to develop into a lethal threat for this LSU defense when his time comes.
Jojo Stone - Wide Receiver - 2024
Standing at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, Stone is about as versatile of an athlete this coaching staff could ask for. Reeling in 37 offers according to Rivals, Stone has been a hot name on the market with LSU coming in and taking the Georgia native.
LSU is beginning to form a pipeline from Loganville, Ga. to Baton Rouge with 2023 4-star safety Michael Daugherty signing with LSU back in December before opting to depart Baton Rouge last month. Daugherty also played with Stone at Grayson High School, one of the top football programs in the country.
Stone has been in Baton Rouge quite a few times unofficially, developing a relationship with the new staff and getting familiar with this new era of LSU football. Being recruited as an athlete gives the Tigers hope that he can be a do-it-all player on this deep roster they’re developing, but shapes up to be a gifted wideout long term.
Pair of Five-Star Defensive Linemen
Williams Nwaneri - Defensive Line - 2024
For the Tigers to get Nwaneri on campus this weekend is a major victory for this program. A superstar in the 2024 class, Brian Kelly’s staff has their foot on the gas for one of the top juniors in the country.
As the 2024 recruiting cycle heats up, the 5-star (Top 10) prospect will continue to be a top priority moving forward.
247Sports’ Breakdown: “Has verified size, length and testing data that is impressive for a player of his build and age. Rare change of direction and agility numbers at his size. Was a good young prospect as a freshman and sophomore but showed big developmental strides on the field as a junior. Quickness off the ball and foot speed in pursuit were improved and those qualities of his are at a high national level. Used his hands better and when combined with his physical gifts, makes him very tough to block. Does not let offensive linemen get clean punches off on him and is able to turn himself and get skinny to help with that…”
David Stone - Defensive Line - 2024
The freak of this visitors list, Stone has the “it” factor. A player who blew up during his junior campaign, the sky’s the limit for one of the most gifted athletes in the 2024 class.
For defensive line coach Jamar Cain to get face time with the 5-star prospect, it sets the tone for the recruitment moving forward. We know just how gifted of a recruiter Cain can be, so this will be one to monitor for the long haul as he continues taking visits.
247Sports’ Breakdown: “A disruptive force in the middle that wins with an explosive get-off and heavy hands. Transferred into the national powerhouse that is IMG Academy in advance of his junior season and carved out a role right away up front for a team that finished ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps Top 25. The type of interior lineman that offers plenty of value as a pass rusher as he quickly shoots into the backfield and gets to work. Ability to cross opposing linemen and collapse pockets is without a doubt promising, but shouldn’t exactly be viewed as some one-trick pony as he also understands how to shed blocks and eat up gaps. Changes directions better than most of his peers, which isn’t surprising given his streamlined build (measured just under 6-foot-3, 270 pounds in Spring 2022).”
The 2024 Sleepers
Aeryn Hampton - Wide Receiver - 4-star
Charleston Collins - Defensive Line - 4-star
Jaylen Harvey - EDGE - 4-star
2025 Visitors
Jordan Davison - Running Back - 4-star
Koby Howard - Wide Receiver - 4-star
