Rebels make late run at Ole Miss legacy, but LSU holds on to 4-star DL Deuce Geralds

Four-star defensive lineman Deuce Geralds entered Signing Day fully expecting to make his LSU commitment official. But as Wednesday unfolded, lingering questions about the Tigers’ defensive staff under new head coach Lane Kiffin, paired with strong, last-minute pressure from other programs, led the Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill standout to hit pause.

Ole Miss, where Geralds is a legacy, pushed the hardest once he delayed. Georgia Tech also made a late run. Geralds said every staff he spoke with represented “an amazing program,” and the attention made the process both hectic and humbling.

Over the next 48 hours, Geralds and his family revisited every angle, including additional conversations with Kiffin and the LSU staff. By Thursday night, clarity came. On Friday, he will sign with the program he has been committed to for more than four months.

“LSU has always been where I wanted to be,” Geralds told Rivals. “It’s bigger than football because of my family and our roots in Baton Rouge. I’m coming to leave a legacy at this program and bring back the winning tradition they are known for. I also love what support they give to student-athletes when it comes to NIL brand and development.”

Ole Miss’ pursuit was real, and Geralds holds deep respect fo Kiffin. He said Kiffin’s competitive drive and ability to elevate his players stood out through the process. Now, Geralds believes that same energy will elevate LSU.

“The team this year did not live up to LSU’s standards,” he said. “I know the new coaches will make sure the entire team is ready to win. We will be competing for national championships right away.”