LSU Football: Bad news on the recruiting trail for the Tigers

LSU football likely isn’t going to land one of their top 2022 in-state recruiting targets.

Four-star running back TreVonte Citizen, a Lake Charles, LA native, committed to the Tigers last summer.

But after a coaching change at LSU, Citizen decided to reset his recruitment and take a look at his options. He decommitted from the Tigers on November 28.

Citizen is still considering LSU, but it appears that he has other programs ahead of the Tigers on his list.

“I’d say the best position is out of Auburn, Miami, and Michigan State right now,” said Citizen to 247Sports this week.

Citizen has been talking to LSU’s new coaching staff — including new head coach Brian Kelly — but he still hasn’t decided how he feels about the Tigers.

“I talk to Coach Frank Wilson and Coach Brian Kelly,” said Citizen. “I’m still getting to know them a little bit. I can’t say what I like.”

Too little too late for LSU football?

It just doesn’t seem like Kelly and the new LSU staff are going to have enough time to build a relationship with Citizen and bring the talented running back to Baton Rouge. That’s not an indictment on Kelly and his staff — it’s just how it goes in recruiting when there’s a coaching change. Kelly likely wasn’t recruiting Citizen when he was a Notre Dame.

LSU doesn’t currently have a running back committed to its 2022 recruiting class.

The Tigers are still in the mix for Trevor Etienne, a Louisiana native who is the brother of former Clemson Tigers running back Travis Etienne. He’s almost certainly the top running back target on their recruiting board right now.

Le’Veon Moss, a Baton Rouge product, was one of LSU’s top running back targets in this recruiting cycle. But he signed with Texas A&M during the early signing period.

With Tyrion Davis-Price off to the NFL, it’s imperative that LSU either find a way to sign Citizen or land Etienne. The Tigers don’t want to strike out on running backs during this recruiting cycle.