Lane Kiffin has started his LSU tenure on a high note, landing No.1 recruit in the nation and retaining a top coordinator.
The Tigers signed stud defensive tackle Lamar Brown, ranked the top overall recruit in the country by both ESPN and RIvals.com.
Brown, a 6-foot-5 defensive tackle from Erwinville, La. who had verbally committed to the Tigers over the summer under previous coach Brian Kelly, signed his letter of intent Friday, the final day of the three-day early signing period, the school announced.
LSU’s recruiting class also features commitments from two more top-100 defensive players in linemen Deuce Geralds (No. 37) and Richard Anderson (No. 90).
ESPN ranked the Tigers’ overall signing class as the No. 14 group in the country.
Lane Kiffin will coach the nation’s No. 1 prospect next year. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Multiple midseason conference losses have LSU starting over, but the Tigers got their man on the sidelines with Lane Kiffin taking over a strong class that includes the No. 1 overall prospect,” ESPN’s Craig Haubert wrote in its evaluation of LSU’s class. “LSU fended off several top suitors, including Texas A&M, and kept top-ranked prospect Lamar Brown at home. Projected to the defensive line, he is an agile and flexible big man who also could excel, if needed, as an offensive lineman.”
Kiffin, who was officially hired away from Ole Miss last weekend with a seven-year contract worth $91 million, also is retaining LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who was considered a head-coaching candidate at other programs, according to The Athletic.
In just a span of a week, Kiffin has gone from securing an 11-1 regular season for Mississippi State to now assembling a recruiting class and coaching staff in Baton Rouge.
Blake Baker is staying with LSU. University Images via Getty ImagKiffin was rebuffed by Mississippi AD Keith Carter to coach the team in the College Football Playoff before officially taking over as the full-time replacement for Kelly, who was fired in October, at LSU.
