When you talk about LSU's recruiting class its a tale of two halves in many ways based on how the Class finished. Early on, LSU was landing everyone, the Nation's top quarterback, running back, and wide receiver along with loads of other elite talents. Down the stretch other programs upped their NIL and while LSU finished with a great class it felt somewhat disappointing.
When you look at how LSU's class truly finished, there is only one way you should feel and that is encouraged.
Take away everything you know about LSU's class but, if you heard that LSU lost the Nation's top overall recruit, a five-star cornerback, a four-star edge rusher, a four-star wide receiver, and a four-star Interior offensive lineman, you'd expect that the recruiting class was a disaster.
Even with LSU's massive losses, the Tigers class was built up of 83% of "Blue Chip" players which was the third best in the Country.
The two schools that beat LSU were Oregon who openly has a blank checkbook from Nike Founder Phil Knight and Georgia who's always going to succeed on the recruiting trail given how dominant Kirby Smart has been and how many of his players have gone on to the NFL.
Even with losing Five-Stars Underwood and Kade Phillips down the final stretch of the recruiting cycle, LSU signed five-stars DJ Pickett, Harlem Berry, and Solomon Thomas. The only other schools to sign three or more five stars were Oregon, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Michigan if the Wolverines flip Five-Star Ty Haywood.
Brian Kelly has always been higher on building through High School recruiting rather than being big spenders in the Transfer Portal which is the right approach. This class gives LSU a great foundation for the future and a great influx of young talent that can play right away.
It should be encouraging that despite losing elite players to massive NIL battles, LSU still finished with the Nation's 7th ranked recruiting class and as LSU continues to better its NIL efforts the classes should only get better.