Breaking down the significance of landing 5-Star WR Tristen Keys for Brian Kelly and LSU

ReliaQuest Bowl - Wisconsin v LSU
ReliaQuest Bowl - Wisconsin v LSU | Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages

On Wednesday Night, LSU pulled off a shocker landing a commitment from 5-Star Wide Receiver Tristen Keys over the presumed favorites in Tennessee and Alabama. LSU hosted Tristen Keys earlier this week where he committed to the staff but, waited to publicly announce but, leaving the visit there were no public signs pointing to LSU.

Almost instantly LSU saw the impact of landing Tristen Keys as it shot the Tigers up On3's Recruiting class rankings from 3rd to 1st firmly securing LSU's place in the race for the Nation's top recruiting class.

In the long term, if LSU can hold onto Tristen Keys, it'll have a massive impact for LSU not only on the field but, on the recruiting trail. LSU hasn't been able to find a quarterback in this recruiting class but, it gets much easier to pitch recruits with an elite wide receiver like Keys on board in this class. If LSU can land Boobie Feaster who On3 projected would land at LSU this weekend, LSU would have a loaded wide receiver class which is even harder to turn down.

When you look at 24/7 Sports composite rankings and LSU's All-Time recruits in the composite rankings, the impact Keys has on this class is massive. Keys' 98 composite score would make him the 9th ranked player in the history of the composite to sign with LSU. Tristen Keys would therefore be the highest rated signee of the Brian Kelly era surpassing DJ Pickett and Harold Perkins Jr.

If Tristen Keys does sign with LSU, he'll be the first five-star wide receiver to sign with LSU since Kayshon Boutte.

On the field, LSU is getting a player with all the tools to be a superstar at the College level in Tristen Keys. At 6 foot 3 and 185 pounds, Keys has the size needed to succeed at the college level and his 58 catches for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns match the hype.

LSU has a long way to go before getting Tristen Keys on campus but, getting him on board in this class was a massive first step. The Tigers now need to keep recruiting Keys as hard as they did when he wasn't committed as none of the schools that were recruiting Keys will stop until National Signing Day.

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