All eyes are on Lane Kiffin as he continues building his roster for his first season at LSU. The transfer portal is now open, and Kiffin is hard at work trying to bring the top players in the country to Baton Rouge. Simultaneously, Kiffin is also recruiting players from the high school ranks, and landed a big commitment from one of the top defensive players in the country.
Industry experts project Lane Kiffin and LSU to land top QB in the portal
On Saturday, Hayes Fawcett of On3 reported that 2027 EDGE Jaiden Bryant has committed to Lane Kiffin and LSU. It's a big get for the Tigers, as Bryant is rated as the No. 1 EDGE prospect in the 2027 recruiting class according to Rivals.
Bryant is the second 2027 recruit to commit to LSU. He joins 4-star QB Peyton Houston, who committed to the Tigers back on September 15.
BREAKING: Elite 2027 EDGE Jaiden Bryant has Committed to LSU, he tells me for @Rivals⁰⁰The 6’4 255 EDGE from Irmo, SC chose the Tigers over South Carolina, Georgia, Miami and Alabama
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 3, 2026
He’s the No. 1 EDGE in the ’27 Class (per Rivals)⁰⁰“Lane Train”https://t.co/kJKNoMSxHK pic.twitter.com/FhAKpHEPMw
LSU lands commitment from No.1 EDGE Jaiden Bryant
Hailing from Columbia, SC, Bryant was the 5A Defensive Player of the Year in South Carolina, and is one of the most sought-after recruits in the country for the 2027 class. He chose LSU over the likes of South Carolina, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Miami (FL), and Texas A&M.
Kiffin brought in South Carolina's Sterling Lucas to be his defensive line coach, which seemed to help LSU land Bryant. Lucas established a relationship with Bryant when served as his primary recruiter with the Gamecocks, and his move to LSU could have played a part in Bryant choosing LSU over South Carolina.
Owning a 6'3.5", 245-pound frame, Bryant is described by 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins as a "thick edge defender that creates negative plays with his twitch, power and a relentless motor." In 2025, Bryant was South Carolina’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year and finished junior season with 79 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries, and an interception.
Bryant is now Kiffin's highest-ranked commit in his early tenure at LSU. Along with continuing to build LSU's future recruiting classes, Tiger fans are eager to see what Kiffin is able to put together for 2026 using the transfer portal.