Last season, the LSU Tigers kept college football fans on the edge of their seats with a mix of hits and misses. They had a pretty decent 9-4 season, but it wasn’t exactly what LSU fans were used to. And their recruiting trail for the 2025 class? Not exactly setting the world on fire, sitting at No. 9. But now, the real drama is unfolding. Teams are all over the place, chasing after these young guns. And Brian Kelly and Co. just snagged a big one. Looks like the HC is locked and loaded for recruiting season.
We all remember how they let their No. 1 QB recruit, Bryce Underwood, slip through their fingers to Michigan. Yeah, maybe Kelly still has nightmares about that one. But this time, they landed a 4-star corner. And let us tell you, their 2026 class is already sitting pretty at No. 1. But this move by Kelly just ticked off nine other colleges.
A major steal for Brian Kelly’s 2026 class
The player in question is Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T Washington four-star cornerback Dylan Purter. The race to land him was no easy task. Kelly’s Tigers were among 24 schools that have extended an offer to the 6-foot-1, 172-pounder. However, the final ten programs were LSU, Auburn, Charlotte, Duke, Georgia Tech, Houston, Kentucky, Marshall, Mississippi State, and North Carolina. But what turned out to be in LSU’s favor?
Their efforts in making Purter feel like the priority. Now, just over a month after landing that offer, Purter is pledged to the Tigers. Chad Simmons tweeted the big news on March 21. “NEWS: LSU lands a commitment from Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington DB Dylan Purter. ”
NEWS: LSU lands a commitment from Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington DB Dylan Purter.
“LSU develops top-notch defensive backs every year,” Purter said.
Story: https://t.co/BVrXfUKSQ7 pic.twitter.com/NkqV9HQNhs
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) March 21, 2025
In an interview with On3, Purter revealed, “They’ve recruited me pretty heavily, staying in contact on a daily basis.” On March 8, the 4-star made his first trip to Baton Rouge. He never felt like an outsider, not for a second; it was pure home vibes. Plus, he’s really clear about what he wants from college, and Kelly’s Tigers seem to have that in spades. “Felt like I’ve been there forever. Coach (Kelly) has amazing standards and holds his players accountable. (Safeties coach Jake Olsen) kept it real with me from the beginning. LSU develops top-notch defensive backs every year,” Purter shared.
Now this has indeed been a big steal for Kelly and Co. The Yellowhammer State prospect ranks as the No. 339 recruit and No. 29 corner in the 2026 cycle. However, On3 ranks him higher at No. 171 overall in the updated On300. As Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings, claimed, “Dylan Purter is a fast rising prospect and looks like one of the more athletic DB’s in the South early on in 2026.” Maybe that’s how the universe is gifting Kelly’s program with all the blessings as they come off as the dark horse in the recruiting race.
The unsung hero of Brian Kelly’s recruiting hits
Purter’s commitment is the second of the month for LSU, following five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys. With his addition, LSU has a top-five recruiting class in the Class of 2026, as per On3 Industry Rankings. Keys is the third receiver in Kelly’s 2026 class. He joined Top247 receiver Kenny Darby and three-star Jakai Anderson. Some of the other quick hits are the No.2 defensive lineman in America, Richard Anderson, No.4 safety Aiden Hall, and 4-star offensive tackle Brysten Martinez, among others.
Even though Kelly deserves a whole lot of credit for the recruiting success, there seems to be another mastermind in Baton Rouge.
That’s none other than LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. Already some of the commits are head-over-heels for the coach. For instance, in one of the episodes of Matt Moscona’s After Further Review: LSU podcast, LSU commit Emile Picarella poured his heart out. “If we’re being completely honest he’s probably my favorite coach that I’ve met throughout this whole process. He’s very transparent and very honest…He’s gonna ask how you’re doing, he’s gonna ask how your siblings are doing, ask about school. And he gets really personal with you because that’s what I think recruiting is supposed to be,” stated the University Lab QB.
Amidst all this success, Brian Kelly still landed in the hot seat. After all, he joined the “fearful” club with Ryan Day, Matt Rhule, and others after deciding to scrap this season’s spring games. “So I looked at the spring practice itself and the game. And 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,” the HC tried to justify himself. LSU will hold an open practice at Tiger Stadium on April 12. With a loaded 2026 class, is Kelly’s defensive stance a necessity or overkill?
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