In College Football, the entire recruiting landscape has changed with the new Name, Image, and Likeness rules making it harder than ever to land an elite recruiting class. It's then even more difficult to keep players as they can jump to a program that will play them or pay them more than you can but, it also gives teams a chance to reload on the fly.
The LSU Tigers season in 2024 did not live up to the program standard as the team missed the Playoffs once again. Despite the less than exciting results, the mood going into the 2025 season is excitement as LSU looks to be a National Championship Contender.
The Tigers were able to take their roster to the next level this offseason by landing the Nation's 9th ranked recruiting class and the 6th ranked Transfer Portal class. In landing a Top Ten class through Traditional Recruiting and Transfer Portal recruiting, the LSU Tigers were one of just five programs to accomplish both feats.
Teams with a Top 10 College Football Recruiting & Transfer Portal class🔥https://t.co/Bgb1DVXmI1 pic.twitter.com/xwnY8BUSyx
— On3 (@On3sports) February 17, 2025
The 9th ranked recruiting class is the most exciting long term as Tigers' fans envision DJ Pickett, Harlem Berry, Solomon Thomas, and the rest of the class as potential building blocks for years to come. Several pieces from the Class will contribute right away while others can become massive pieces for LSU after a season in the program.
The most impressive part about LSU's 2025 recruiting class is that they lost the Nation's Top Quarterback Bryce Underwood, the top Wide Receiver Dakorien Moore, a Five Star Cornerback Kade Phillips to Texas, along with highly touted recruits in Derek Meadows, LaJesse Harrold, Mike Tyler, Jaboree Antoine, and Devin Harper. Most schools don't ever accumulate that much talent in a class and if they did everyone would project they'd finish near 50th rather than the Top Ten.
When it comes to competing for a National Championship right now, the LSU Tigers transfer portal class is what gives the Tigers a chance at returning to glory. Every need the Tigers had on the roster was filled with a high end player which should only make the Tigers better in 2025. LSU once again has the elite playmakers in the secondary it has lacked and an aresenal of weapons for Garrett Nussmeier and the offense.
The biggest challenge for Brian Kelly is now piecing everyone together as the team underwent a ton of turnover before a crucial season for the program. If the staff can find a way to get this talent all playing as a unit than the Tigers will be a College Football Playoff contender.