Top-50 defensive lineman Kelby Collins offered by LSU, Oregon

On3 imageby:Keegan Pope01/12/22

bykeeganpope

Gardendale (Ala.) defensive lineman Kelby Collins has quickly become one of the most sought-after prospect in the 2023 class, holding more than two dozen offers. The list of programs vying for his services grew even bigger last night when the new coaching staffs at both Oregon and LSU extended him offers.

Collins is the No. 43 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 9 defensive lineman and the No. 7 prospect in Alabama this cycle.

The 6-foot-5, 278-pounder is now up to 29 reported offers, including Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and others. His high school is just an hour from Tuscaloosa. And he is expected to be a major priority for the Crimson Tide over the next year.

“I grew up an Alabama fan and when I took my first visit it was amazing,” Collins told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “I connected with my position coach and all of the other staff members off the rip. And I feel like I can fit in the way they run their defense.”

But the Ducks specifically could have a very interesting connection with new defensive coordinator coach Tosh Lupoi, who coached at Alabama and was one of Nick Saban‘s best recruiters from 2014-18.

Kelby Collins took a pair of unofficial visits to both Auburn and Alabama this fall, as well as a trip each to Florida and Clemson. He named a top schools list this fall that included each of those four, as well as Texas A&M, Georgia, Texas and South Carolina.