LSU climbs in On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings
LSU landed its biggest win of the 2023 cycle when Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic five-star wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr. committed to the Tigers. Sampson Jr.’s decision elevated the Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class to No. 6 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. LSU’s group, which ranks No. 3 in the SEC, climbed four spots from No. 10.
“I like how genuine they all are,” Sampson told On3 about LSU’s coaching staff. “The Louisiana culture there is real. From the old coaching staff to the new coaching staff, the energy is different. When Coach Kelly came in he got the academics right. It’s all going in the right direction and that caught my mom’s attention — even more than mine — but she’s a part of the decision, too.”
Sampson Jr. is the No. 32 overall prospect and No. 6 wide receiver in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 rates him even higher as the No. 21 overall prospect and No. 4 wide receiver in the 2023 On300. Both rankings rate him as the No. 3 player in Louisiana.
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Sampson Jr. marks LSU’s biggest recruiting win this summer
Even before Sampson Jr.’s commitment, the Tigers had been on a tear this summer. They have notched 13 commitments since June 23. Multiple pledges came from top-200 prospects including Sampson Jr., Miami Gulliver Prep four-star wide receiver Jalen Brown, Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy four-star EDGE Dashawn Womack, Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence Central four-star EDGE Joshua Mickens and Minneapolis (Minn.) Robbinsdale Cooper four-star EDGE Jaxon Howard.
LSU also had pledges from four in-state recruits in Baton Rouge (La.) Liberty Magnet High School four-star running back Kaleb Jackson, Marrero (La.) St. Augustine four-star offensive tackle Tyree Adams, Farmerville (La.) Union Parish four-star running back Trey Holly and Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel three-star safety Ashton Stamps. Holly committed on May 15. With Sampson Jr. now in the fold, the Tigers have commitments from two of the top 10 and three of the top 15 prospects from the Pelican State, according to the On3 Consensus.
The program’s other summer commitments include Columbus (Ga.) Carver four-star defensive lineman Darron Reed, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy three-star wide receiver Kyle Parker, Buford (Ga.) three-star interior offensive lineman Paul Mubenga, Watkinsville (Ga.) Oconee County three-star linebacker Whit Weeks and Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman three-star cornerback Jeremiah Hughes.
LSU may not be done landing Louisiana recruits
Sampson Jr. is currently LSU’s highest-ranked in-state and overall recruit. But more prospects from the Boot may be committing to head coach Brian Kelly and his staff.
Monroe (La.) Neville four-star offensive tackle Zalance Heard is given a 96.7% chance to commit to the Tigers, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Heard, the No. 52 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus, is rated as a five-star recruit by On3 and ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2023 On300.
Jackson (La.) Zachary four-star safety Kylin Jackson is also favored by the RPM to land with the Tigers at 97.6%. Meanwhile, Baton Rouge (La.) Woodlawn four-star quarterback Rickie Collins, who recently decommitted from Purdue, has a 97.8% to commit to LSU. Both Jackson and Collins are top-200 prospects in the On3 Consensus.
If Kelly can reel in all three prospects, it would give the Tigers four of the top 10 and six of the top 15 players in Louisiana. Belle Rose (La.) St. James Khai Prean is currently favored by the RPM to commit to LSU at 59.0%. However, Auburn is close behind at 40.4% for Prean, the No. 15 player in the state.