LSU Football: Tigers now have a 5-star in their 2021 recruiting class

LSU football‘s 2021 recruiting class didn’t include a five-star commit earlier this week.

That changed on Wednesday when defensive tackle Maason Smith was elevated to five-star status (247Sports composite).

Smith, a Louisiana native who is ranked as a top 20 overall 2021 recruit, signed with the Tigers in December during the early signing period.

“He (Smith) is one of the higher-floor prospects in the country in this class, regardless of position,” wrote 247Sports recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks. “Smith is physically ready to step on the field and play meaningful snaps in the SEC.”

LSU football’s 2021 recruiting class receives a rating boost

Thanks to Smith’s rating bump, LSU’s entire 2021 recruiting class moved up a bit in the 247Sports team rankings.

LSU jumped Clemson in the rankings for the No. 4 spot.

Ed Orgeron’s squad has 22 players currently in its 2021 recruiting class. 20 of those players signed during the early signing period (and nine of those who have signed are already enrolled at LSU).

The two players that haven’t signed yet are four-star defensive end Savion Jones (a Louisiana native) and three-star offensive guard Kimo Makaneole (a Florida native).

Clemson has 19 commits (all of their commits signed during the early signing period), so they still have some room to add some talent and reclaim the No. 4 position in the rankings.

I don’t expect LSU to pursue anymore 2021 commits. Coach O said this week, during a radio interview on 104.5 in Baton Rouge, that he and his staff are looking at three linebackers in the transfer portal. If the Tigers land all three, they wouldn’t be able to add any other players during this cycle.

Though it’s certainly possible that if LSU fails to land any of the players they’re looking at in the portal, they could pivot and look to add another 2021 recruit.