In-State Recruits Give LSU a Chance to Land Top 2026 Recruiting Class
Under Brian Kelly the one thing LSU has done better than most schools has been keeping top talent in the state. As things currently stand in the 2025 recruiting class, LSU has kept seven of the top ten recruits in the state with a chance of pushing for more. The ability to keep the top players in the state gives LSU a serious chance at landing the Nation's top recruiting class in 2026.
The 2025 recruiting class has just one five star in the class and ten four-star recruits while 2026 has two five-star recruits and eight four-star recruits. The top-end talent in the state will give LSU a chance to land another great class with the following recruits being top priorities:
Jahkeem Stewart - Defensive Line
As things currently stand, Jahkeem Stewart is the top-ranked player by every recruiting platform except for 24/7 Sports and the Nation's top defensive player. The LSU Football team will look to push hard for the top player in the state especially as he considers reclassifying into the 2025 recruiting class. Thus far LSU has made a strong push for Stewart hosting him on four unofficial visits with more to come as the 2026 recruiting cycle nears.
Nearly every school in the country wants Jahkeem Stewart but, early on it seems that LSU has a slight edge on everyone else. If LSU has any school it needs to worry about it's USC as they've made a strong push for Stewart. The Tigers offer Stewart a great chance to head to the NFL, with Bo Davis as his position coach and with sending 6 defensive linemen to the NFL in the last five years.
Lamar Brown - Guard
Lamar Brown certainly has an argument to be made as the best player in Louisiana and the country with his talent at guard and at defensive tackle. Brown plans on playing offensive line at the college level despite being an incredible defensive tackle ranking as the top interior offensive lineman and the fourth best player in the country according to On3.
The LSU Football team may have the strongest recruiting pitch for offensive linemen in the 2026 recruiting cycle as the class will likely see Will Campbell and Emery Jones get selected in the first round while Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger will likely be day two selections. The LSU Football team could offer Brown the best chance at making the NFL while also giving him a chance to compete for National Championships, SEC titles, and the Joe Moore Award.