LSU lands 5-star Lamar Brown, jumps into Top 5 of 2026 recruiting rankings

LSU made a massive splash on the recruiting trail this week with the addition of Lamar Brown, the top-ranked prospect in Louisiana and one of the most coveted defensive linemen in the 2026 class.

The five-star Brown announced his commitment to the hometown Tigers over a final group that included Texas A&M, Texas, and Miami. In the end, it was a two-team battle between LSU and the Aggies, the two programs he visited most during his recruitment.

His decision gives LSU a cornerstone on the defensive front and adds more elite firepower to a class that continues to rise in the national rankings.

Brown is the No. 1 player in Louisiana according to the Rivals Industry Recruiting Rankings for the 2026 cycle. He becomes commitment No. 15 for LSU and joins Tristen Keys and Richard Anderson as the third five-star pledge in what’s shaping up to be a star-studded class.

With Brown on board, LSU climbed three spots to move into the Top 5 of the national team rankings. The current Top 5 includes USC (31 commits), Georgia (27), Texas A&M (24), Notre Dame (25), and LSU (15). While the Tigers’ overall number of commits is smaller, the quality stands out.

In fact, LSU holds the highest average player rating in the country at 92.47—a clear indication that Brian Kelly and his staff are targeting and landing elite talent.

This commitment not only bolsters LSU’s class but also sends a strong message across the country about the Tigers prioritizing top in-state prospects and winning key battles against national powers.

And they’re far from done. With several high-profile targets still on the board, LSU’s 2026 class could get even stronger in the weeks and months ahead.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at LSU’s 15 verbal pledges.

LSU’s Offensive Commits

Tristen Keys – 5-star WR

• Hometown/HS: Hattiesburg, MS – Hattiesburg High

• Commit Date: 3/19/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′2.5″, 185 lb    

• On3 Industry Rating: 98.43 (No. 1 WR, No. 5 overall, No. 1 in Mississippi)

*****

Jabari Mack – 4-star WR

• Hometown/HS: New Orleans, LA – Destrehan

• Commit Date: 3/22/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′0″, 200 lb   

• On3 Industry Rating: 94.27 (No. 8 WR, No. 60 overall, No. 4 in Louisiana)

*****

Kenny Darby – 4-star WR

• Hometown/HS: Bossier City, LA – Airline

• Commit Date: 11/12/2024

• Height/Weight: 6′0″, 175 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 92.00 (No. 21 WR, No. 153 overall, No. 7 in Louisiana)

*****

Brysten Martinez – 4-star OT

• Hometown/HS: Gonzales, LA – East Ascension

• Commit Date: 2/13/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′5.5″, 290 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 92.96 (No. 10 OT, No. 111 overall, No. 6 in Louisiana)

*****

Emmanuel Tucker – 4-star OT

• Hometown/HS: New Albany, MS – New Albany HS

• Commit Date: 6/12/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′7″, 285 lb    

• On3 Industry Rating: 91.10 (No. 16 OT, No. 204 overall, No. 9 in Mississippi)

*****

Bryson Cooley – 4-star OL

• Hometown/HS: Laurel, MS – West Jones

• Commit Date: 7/4/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′6″, 315 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 89.07 (No. 32 OL, No. 387 overall, No. 14 in Mississippi)

Jalan Chapman – 3-star IOL

• Hometown/HS: New Orleans, LA – Warren Easton

• Commit Date: 7/28/2024

• Height/Weight: 6′2″, 265 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 86.46 (No. 81 IOL, No. 828 overall, No. 25 in Louisiana)

Commits on Defense

Richard Anderson – 5-star DL

• Hometown/HS: New Orleans, LA – Edna Karr

• Commit Date: 6/21/2024

• Height/Weight: 6′3.5″, 335 lb   

• On3 Industry Rating: 95.87 (No. 1 DL, No. 26 overall, No. 2 in Louisiana)

*****

Lamar Brown – 5-star ATH

• Hometown/HS: Erwinville, LA – University Lab

• Commit Date: 7/10/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′4″, 285 lb   

• On3 Industry Rating: 98.04 (No. 1 ATH, No. 7 overall, No. 1 in Louisiana)

*****

Trenton Henderson – 4-star EDGE

• Hometown/HS: Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Catholic

• Commit Date: 7/2/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′4″, 225 lb    

• On3 Industry Rating: 94.36 (No. 11 EDGE, No. 59 overall, No. 10 in Florida)

*****

Havon Finney – 4-star CB

• Hometown/HS: Los Angeles, CA – Sierra Canyon

• Commit Date: 4/28/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′2″, 170 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 94.23 (No. 7 CB, No. 62 overall, No. 8 in California)

*****

Dezyrian Ellis – 3-star ATH (CB)

• Hometown/HS: Winnsboro, LA – Franklin Parish HS

• Commit Date: 6/28/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′2″, 163 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 87.75 (No. 30 ATH, No. 571 overall, No. 17 in Louisiana)

*****

Aiden Hall – 4-star S

• Hometown/HS: New Orleans, LA – Edna Karr

• Commit Date: 8/3/2024

• Height/Weight: 6′1.5″, 195 lb    

• On3 Industry Rating: 93.51 (No. 7 S, No. 88 overall, No. 5 in Louisiana)

*****

Dylan Purter – 4-star S

• Hometown/HS: Tuskegee, AL – Booker T. Washington

• Commit Date: 3/21/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′0″, 165 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 91.24 (No. 17 S, No. 193 overall, No. 12 in Alabama)

*****

Isaiah Washington – 3-star S

• Hometown/HS: Haynesville, LA – Haynesville

• Commit Date: 7/4/2025

• Height/Weight: 6′1″, 170 lb  

• On3 Industry Rating: 87.05 (No. 67 S, No. 720 overall, No. 23 in Louisiana)