Lane Kiffin's early days on the job at the helm of the LSU Football program have been all about roster construction and recruiting. His efforts have Tiger fans fired up about the potential for LSU in 2026 and beyond, as Kiffin signed the No. 1 portal class in the country as well as retaining several key players from last season and signing 14 recruits during the Early Signing Period.
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As Kiffin and his staff continue to be on the hunt for elite 2027 recruits, LSU is firmly in the hunt to land 5-star offensive line prospect Mark Matthews. According to Rivals, Kiffin and the Tigers are competing with the Oregon Ducks, Texas A&M Aggies, Georgia Bulldogs, and Miami Hurricanes for Matthews' services.
Three schools are currently at the top for Five-Star Plus+ OT Mark Matthews, he tells @ChadSimmons_👀
— Rivals (@Rivals) February 15, 2026
Matthews is the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2027 class.
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LSU in the hunt to land 5-star OT Mark Matthews
Hailing from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Marks is regarded as one of the premiere offensive line talents in the 2027 recruiting class. He is rated as a consensus 5-star prospect and is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 overall player in the 2027 class by 247Sports.
Matthews was making the rounds during the fall, as he took unofficial visits to Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Ohio State. He also visited Florida, Florida State, and Nebraska last spring and summer. Official visit season is quickly approaching, and Tiger fans are eager to see what Kiffin and his staff can pull off.
After LSU's offensive line underwhelmed in 2025, Kiffin has revamped the Tiger O line over the last few months. His most notable addition came in the form of 5-star Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton, who was ranked as the top offensive lineman and No. 3 overall player available in the portal according to On3's transfer portal player rankings.
As it stands, LSU's 2027 class includes 4-star EDGE Jaiden Bryant and 4-star QB Peyton Houston. Adding Matthews to the mix would be a massive win for Kiffin and the Tigers.