LSU lands a pair of Tigers on the SEC All-Freshman Team

DJ Pickett, one of the most impactful true freshmen in college football in 2025, has been selected to the SEC Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team, the league office announced on Thursday.

Pickett, a cornerback, is joined on the team by fellow LSU true freshman Silas Hall, who earned a spot on the team as long snapper.

Pickett appeared in all 12 games, starting twice, and tallied 30 tackles, two sacks and tied for team-high honors with three interceptions. His interceptions came against Florida, Oklahoma and Western Kentucky.

He added a pair of pass breakups and a quarterback hurry for an LSU defense that led the SEC in pass efficiency.

In 262 pass coverage snaps, Pickett allowed only 15 receptions and just one touchdown. The 15 receptions allowed accounted for only 188 total yards and just one first down. 

Hall, from Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, started the season as LSU’s primary snapper for field goals and extra points. He took over snapping on punt coverage midway through the year.

Hall appeared in all 12 games – seeing action on 35 punt coverage snaps and 57 for point-after touchdowns and field goals. He was part of a special teams unit that helped kicker Damian Ramos and punter Grant Chadwick earn third-team All-SEC honors.

FULL LIST

Offense
QB – Cutter Boley, Kentucky
RB – Chauncey Bowens, Georgia
RB – Tory Blaylock, Oklahoma
WR – Vernell Brown III, Florida
WR – Braylon Staley, Tennessee
TE – Kaleb Edwards, Alabama
OL – David Sanders Jr., Tennessee
OL – Michael Carroll, Alabama
OL – Kobe Branham, Arkansas
OL – Dontrell Glover, Georgia
C – Kail Ellis, Auburn
AP – Vernell Brown III, Florida

Defense
DL – Jayden Woods, Florida
DL – Elijah Griffin, Georgia
DL – Lance Jackson, Texas
DL – London Simmons, Alabama
LB – Edwin Spillman, Tennessee
LB – Elijah Melendez, Auburn
LB – Tyler Lockhart, Mississippi State
DB – Dijon Lee Jr., Alabama
DB – Courtland Guillory, Oklahoma
DB – DJ Pickett, LSU
DB – Ty Redmond, Tennessee

Special Teams
PK – Scott Starzyk, Arkansas
P – Mason Love, South Carolina
RS – Vernell Brown III, Florida
KOS – Max Kelley, South Carolina
LS – Silas Hall, LSU

DJ Pickett’s Rise

369 days ago, LSU defensive backs coach Corey Raymond signed Pickett, a 5-star+ prospect and the No. 1 cornerback prospect on Rivals.

At 6-foot-5, 195-pounds, Pickett had a rare blend of size and athleticism that made him one of the most-coveted recruits in high school football.

Ahead of Pickett’s senior season in Florida, Rivals National Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power named Pickett to his list of “Future Freaks”.

“DJ Pickett has rare dimensions and athleticism at the corner position. The Five-Star Plus+ prospect has the frame of a jumbo corner with elite length, but also touts speed that eclipses most of his peers at the position,” Power said.

At 6-foot-4, 179 pounds, Power circled a pair of things that helped push Pickett into the No. 1 spot in the final cornerback rankings – and certainly made Raymond go all-in on the lengthy defensive back prospect.

Power’s head-turning things away from a football field: Pickett’s verified measurements of 33.625-inch arms, a 6-foot-8-wing-span, and 9.125-inch hand coupled with a high school track career that brought personal bests of 10.62 in the 100-meter dash and 21.66 in the 200-meter dash.