On Wednesday night, the LSU Football program made a major splash in the college football recruiting scene by securing cornerback DJ Pickett. LSU outcompeted in-state rival Miami, which had family connections to Pickett, and Oregon, which reportedly has a substantial NIL budget courtesy of Nike founder Phil Knight.
Pickett’s commitment provides LSU with a standout player to highlight during recruitment, similar to their offensive stars Bryce Underwood and Harlem Berry. This addition is particularly beneficial for their secondary, which currently includes only Pickett and Jhase Thomas.
This weekend, LSU has the opportunity to add another defensive back when former LSU commit Jaboree Antoine announces his decision. Ranked as the 87th player in his class, Antoine will choose between LSU, Florida State, and Miami. Pickett’s commitment might influence Antoine, who shared the news of Pickett’s commitment on social media.
👀👀👀👀 https://t.co/0G3AQozpOy
— Jonah “Island Boi🏝️” Williams (@JonahW409) July 17, 2024
DJ Pickett’s recruitment may also impact five-star safety and star baseball recruit Jonah Williams. Although LSU made early progress with Williams this summer, they still lagged behind Oregon, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. With Pickett now on board and changes occurring in Texas A&M’s baseball program, LSU might have a better chance of securing Williams, who has not set a commitment date yet.
Securing DJ Pickett reflects positively on the LSU program. Despite earlier claims that head coach Brian Kelly wasn’t focused on acquiring players through financial incentives, the successful recruitment of Pickett suggests otherwise. This move propels LSU among the top teams in this recruiting cycle, and with about nine scholarships left to fill, they have the potential to secure the top recruiting class.