Down the stretch of the 2025 recruiting class, LSU was seemingly watching their recruiting class fall apart as big names were flipping to other power five schools seemingly every week. The fanbase was alarmed but, Brian Kelly said that LSU would bring in its biggest transfer class yet, and called for the NIL Collective to show more of a buy-in.
What Brian Kelly has done is launched a fundraising initiative pledging to match $1 Million in donations to the Football program via the NIL Collective which has since been matched by an anonymous donor meaning for every $1 being donated $3 are being given to the football team.
Kelly didn't necessarily need all of that NIL money however as the losses of Bryce Underwood, Kade Phillips, Derek Meadows, Jesse Harrold, and Devin Harper freed up money LSU was planning on giving its freshman class.
The biggest loss of the class was losing the Nation's Top overall recruit, Quarterback Bryce Underwood. LSU added a quarterback in Michael Van Buren and while LSU would love to have Underwood to develop, they get Van Buren assumedly for much cheaper while he comes with experience and a ton of upside.
The Tigers lost five star cornerback Kade Phillips on the day before National Signing Day to Texas who swooped in last second. LSU has gone out and got two immediate starters at cornerback or safety in the transfer portal in Ja'Keem Jackson and Mansoor Delane. Kade Phillips could end up being a solid player but, in 2025 he likely wouldn't have been able to give LSU what Delane and Jackson can in the secondary.
The Tigers lost four-star wide receiver Derek Meadows on National Signing Day as Alabama swooped in for the flip. LSU has since gone out and replaced his size with that of Nic Anderson while adding Destyn Hill and Barion Brown. The Tigers needed to add depth and top end talent to the room and it has done both in this transfer cycle.
Edge Rusher Jesse Harrold decommitted from LSU on Thanksgiving before signing with Florida State. The Tigers pivoted given that it's a massive position of need as LSU loses Bradyn Swinson and Sa'Vion Jones and flipped offensive lineman Solomon Thomas from Florida State while adding edge rushers Jimari Butler and Jack Pyburn.
Recruiting losses have made the 2025 team a force
The recruiting losses may hurt in the long run but, the added need to add talent to this roster only bolstered LSU's chances in 2025. The losses have led to LSU going all out in the transfer portal like we've never seen under Brian Kelly and if it pans out we may come to expect this type of push year over year. The pieces all need to come together to form a solid unit but, this will be far and away LSU's most talented roster top to bottom under Brian Kelly.