One of the best prospects in the entire 2026 recruiting class is heading to LSU.
On Thursday, defensive lineman Lamar Brown chose the Tigers over Texas A&M, Texas and Miami during a live broadcast of his decision on ESPN2. It’s a significant recruiting win for Brian Kelly, especially since he was going up against some of his program’s SEC rivals.
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Brown checks in at 6’4″ as a 5-star prospect and the No. 5 overall player in the 2026 class. He is also the No. 1 defensive lineman and player from the state of Louisiana among his peers.
That he is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in LSU’s backyard made him all the more important for the Tigers’ class as they look to keep the state’s best players at Louisiana’s flagship program. That also dialed up the pressure on Kelly, and he delivered.
With that as the backdrop, there was genuine drama leading up to Thursday’s decision.
Glen West of 247Sports noted “as of late Wednesday afternoon, no school had a firm indication one way or the other about what Brown was going to decide.” That stood in stark contrast to modern-day recruiting where there’s generally “a sense of where a prospect is leaning.”
Will Rosenblatt of LSU Wire reported that insiders saw LSU and Texas A&M as “the clear favorites” with Miami and Texas seen as schools that gradually lost momentum despite their status as finalists.
Some of the other uncertainty regarding Brown’s recruitment was about what position he would play, since he was also a star interior offensive lineman at the high school level.
However, Rosenblatt pointed out Brown prefers to play on the defensive side, and that is what he is projected to play in college.
Gabe Brooks of 247Sports highlighted Brown’s “sudden athleticism and explosive movements” in a scouting report, which helps him thrive on both sides of the ball.
That “initial suddenness” helps him blow past offensive linemen when rushing the quarterback, and he also possesses the power to help stuff the run in the interior. Throw in the athleticism to chase the quarterback inside and outside of the pocket, and it is clear why he is such a highly regarded prospect.
Brown would have been an important recruitment for LSU regardless of who it was competing against given his overall talent, but beating out an SEC rival makes this an even bigger victory.
Those SEC clashes on the field are first decided on the recruiting trail, and the Tigers now have someone who can contribute right away and anchor their defensive line for multiple years as one of the best players in the entire 2026 class.
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