The college football recruiting landscape has changed over the past several years with the emergence of NIL and the transfer portal, but bringing in top tier high school talent is still a critical aspect of roster construction in 2025. On the recruiting trail, LSU has a major advantage over other SEC schools as it is the only power conference school in a state full of talent. Baton Rouge is the No. 1 destination for the top players in Louisiana, and whoever steps in as LSU's next head coach is sure to enjoy those benefits.
Brian Kelly had a passionate 5-word message for his players after he was fired
As Brian Kelly exits the program after 3.5 years, there are several 2026 recruits that LSU needs to prioritize keeping when searching for its next head coach.
2026 recruits that LSU needs to keep amid coaching change
Brian Kelly never had a recruiting class outside the top-10 at LSU. As it stands, LSU has the No. 11 recruiting class in the country for 2026 according to 247Sports.
Lamar Brown, DL
From the moment Scott Woodward fired Brian Kelly, LSU fans immediately began wondering if 5-star recruit Lamar Brown would stay committed to the Tigers. According to the 247Sports Composite, Brown is ranked as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the country. He is a superstar in the making, and hails from right down the road at University Lab in Baton Rouge. After garnering attention from just about every power conference school in the country, Brown committed to LSU on July 10.
What makes LSU fans nervous at this time is that Texas A&M was among the finalists in Brown's recruitment. Brown was in Death Valley this past weekend to watch the Aggies manhandle the Tigers en route to a 49-25 win. It got so bad that Texas A&M fans were chanting "We want Lamar" in the 4th quarter while LSU fans begged Brown to stay committed to the Tigers. LSU has a serious home field advantage in Lamar's recruitment, and hopefully they are able to hang on to him.
Trenton Henderson, EDGE
The LSU 2026 recruiting class has two 5-stars. One is Brown, and the other is EDGE Trenton Henderson. The 6'4", 225-pound prospect is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 5 EDGE in the country and the No. 29 overall player in the nation. Hailing from Pensacola, FL, Henderson committed to LSU on July 2 over other offers from Texas, Florida, Florida State, and Auburn.
What's interesting about Henderson is that Florida also has a head coaching vacancy. That is a situation worth monitoring, as the Gators were heavily involved in Henderson's recruitment from the jump. Henderson took an official visit to Gainesville on June 13, less than a month before committing to the Tigers.
Brysten Martinez, OL
The offensive line has been a major issue for LSU this season. Moving forward, the new coaching staff needs to make rebuilding the O line a top priority. That could start with keeping 4-star recruit Brysten Martinez committed to LSU. Martinez is the highest ranked offensive player in LSU's 2026 class. He is the No. 8 offensive tackle in the country according to the 247Sports Composite.
Martinez is a Louisiana product, hailing from Gonzales and playing his high school football at East Ascension. He's been committed to LSU since February 13, and was last in Baton Rouge on June 20 for an official visit. Keeping Martinez in the mix next season could bode well for the new coaching staff when they arrive.