Say my name—that’s the vibe DJ Pickett’s throwing down at LSU spring practice. Everyone had their eyes glued to Baton Rouge, but nobody expected the show this freshman was about to put on. The hype’s been real since he landed in 2024, but seeing him perform like that? It had coaches’ hands and legs flying. You can bet people are talking. It’s like they’re ready to give him the keys to the city. So, what exactly did he do to send LSU fans into a frenzy?
DJ Pickett, the five-star phenom everyone’s been buzzing about, is tearing up LSU’s spring practices. And he’s not just meeting expectations; he’s blowing them away. In just five practices, he’s been making plays like it’s no big deal, turning heads with every move. The clip that really set things off came from Rivals IG, showing Pickett soaring into the air to snatch an interception like he’s got springs for legs. And let’s be real, LSU fans are eating it up in comment sections.
At 6’4” with long arms and elite speed, he’s the ultimate lockdown corner. Big enough to jam and ram anyone at the line, fast enough to track down even the shiftiest wideouts. That 10.6 speed in the 100-meter? It’s his cheat code—close gaps, make plays, no problem. No surprise he’s already snatching picks in LSU practice.
For LSU’s secondary, Pickett is that missing piece that could take them from good to straight-up scary. Last season, the Tigers’ cornerback room looked solid but far from legendary. Sure, they’ve got Ashton Stamps, the returning snap leader, and some veteran transfers like Mansoor Delane from Virginia Tech and Tamarcus Cooley from NC State. They even have PJ Woodland and Javien Toviano developing as depth pieces. But DJ Pickett? Most potential on the roster.
And let’s not forget, the guy has been a highlight reel since high school. We’re talking 94 tackles and 10 interceptions on defense like it’s light work. On offense, he stacked 130 catches, 2,577 yards, and 25 touchdowns. He was out there embarrassing DBs while shutting down receivers on the offense. No wonder On3 and Rivals crowned him the No. 1 corner in the country. Even ESPN and 247Sports kept him at No. 2, which, let’s be real, feels like a crime with what this CB can do.
It’s not like LSU’s just going to hand him the keys, though. Brian Kelly has already hinted that the Tigers have plenty of depth at cornerback, and they don’t have to rush Pickett onto the field. “We have some young players that need some practice time. This will give everybody an opportunity,” Kelly mentioned when talking about the spring setup. But even he knows what’s up. When you’ve got a talent like Pickett, you’re finding a way to get him on the field. Now, while everyone’s buzzing about DJ Pickett’s wild spring debut, Brian Kelly dropped another bombshell.
Brian Kelly breaks the silence on LSU’s canceled spring game
LSU has officially joined the list of top-tier programs opting out of a traditional spring game this year. But Brian Kelly is not about to throw shade or point fingers. He’s all about making sure his squad gets the reps they need. “As I looked at the spring practice itself and the game, I think what was more important to me, where we are as a football team, was to get all of our players an opportunity to get reps,” Kelly said. “Sometimes, you don’t get the equal amount of reps in a spring game. We have some young players that need some practice time. This will give everybody an opportunity.”
Sure, some coaches are worried about tampering and rival schools peeping their reserves, but for Kelly, it’s about efficiency. He’s not trying to put on a show; he’s trying to build a natty roster. “You don’t have to worry about splitting the squad,” Kelly added. “You don’t have to worry about some of the nuances that splitting it up and having two teams sometimes makes it difficult for you to get the matchups that you want.”
It’s a smart move, honestly. By ditching the old-school spring game format, LSU is giving guys like DJ Pickett a chance to shine without all the unnecessary theatrics. And if what we’ve seen from Pickett so far is just the beginning, man, SEC wide receivers better start praying now. It’s only a matter of time before LSU gets Derek Stingley 2.0 on the field.
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