The beginning of July was quite fruitful in terms of recruiting Brian Kelly and his LSU Football team.
Over the course of two days, the Tigers secured commitments from three defensive linemen who address the team’s biggest need in the 2025 recruiting class.
Four-star pass rusher Damien Shanklin chose LSU over Alabama and Ohio State last Friday. The Indianapolis native is ranked as the 110th best overall prospect in this year’s class, according to the 247Sports Composite, and is ranked as the 10th best edge rusher coming out of high school.
Among the 15 players committed to the 2025 recruiting class so far, Shanklin is the third-highest-rated prospect after five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and four-star tailback Harlem Berry.
Kelly and LSU defensive line coach Bo Davis earning Shanklin’s pledge was even more beneficial as two more defensive linemen were welcomed into the group.
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Davis also managed to lure four-star defensive lineman Brandon Brown from now-SEC rival Texas on Friday. The 6-2, 286-pound Brown has been committed to the Longhorns since December 2023, but when he loaned him, Davis was the defensive line coach in Austin.
Brown, a native of Melbourne, Florida, decided to play again for Davis – now in Baton Rouge.
Last Thursday, Lufkin, Texas native Zion Williams lent his promise to LSU, choosing the Tigers over Alabama, Texas A&M, TCU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Tennessee and a host of other scholarship offers of study.
Williams is a four-star defensive line prospect by the 247Sports Composite, is ranked in the top 300 in the country and is listed as the 33rd best recruit at his position in the class of 2025. At 6-4, 295, Williams projects to play defensive end at the college level, something LSU badly needs in this year’s classes.
LSU is back at No. 6 in 247Sports’ 2025 recruiting class rankings after spending time earlier this offseason at No. 1. The recent decommitments of wide receiver Dakorien Moore, who announced his commitment to Oregon last week, and cornerback Jaboree Antonie, have seen the Tigers fall in the class rankings.
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LSU Football Recruiting Class 2025
QBBryce Underwood / 6-3, 205 / Belleville High School / Belleville, Michigan / No. 1 nationally ranked
RB Harlem Berry / 5-11, 175 / St. Martin’s Episcopal School / Metairie / No. 44 nationally ranked
BY Damien Shanklin / 6-4, 230 / Warren Central High School / Indianapolis / No.
BY LaJesse Harrold / 6-5, 215 / Robinson High School / Tampa, Florida / #73 nationally
OL Devin Harper / 6-5, 300 / Calvary Baptist Academy / Shreveport / No. 109 ranked nationally
OT Tyler Miller / 6-5, 315 / Laurel High School / Laurel, Mississippi / No. 234 ranked nationally
LB Charles Ross / 6-1, 195 / North Shore High School / Houston / No. 247 ranked nationally
RB JT Lindsey / 5-11, 185 / Alexandria High School / Alexandria / No.
AT Carius Curne / 6-4, 301 / Marion High School / Marion, Arkansas / No.
LB Keylan Moisés / 6-2, 210 / University Laboratory / Baton Rouge / N/A nationally
WR TaRon Francis / 6-2, 200 / Edna Karr High School / New Orleans / #191 nationally
TE John David LaFleur / 6-6, 220 / Sulfur High School / Sulfur / N/A nationally
OT Brett Bordelon / 6-4, 260 / Isidore Newman School / New Orleans / N/A nationally
DL Brandon Brown / 6-2, 286 / Eau Gallie High School / Melbourne, Florida / N/A nationally
DL Zion Williams / 6-4, 295 / Lufkin High School / Lufkin, Texas / N/A nationally
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Have questions about LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in the Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football lands commitments from three defensive linemen