While the NFL is celebrating Jayden Daniels, here Brian Kelly is facing the heat at LSU. Fans are still wondering how, even with Daniels’ generational talent, the Tigers lost 3 games in 2023. And this year, with Garrett Nussmeier at QB, they finished 9-4 after the Texas Bowl, missing the playoffs and putting the head coach under more pressure. Now with a few 5-star recruits in the 2nd NDS, Kelly is in damage control mode. But this particular TE recruit’s “first love” could be a major roadblock.

And it’s not just about the quarterback situation. Enter a rising star with a crossroads dilemma, one that could shake up the future of LSU football. Freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green, a five-star recruit with a towering 6’7″, 245-pound frame, is at the center of a decision that may not sit well with Brian Kelly. Green’s name has already started circulating as a key offensive piece for new starting QB Garrett Nussmeier, but his true passion may lie away from the gridiron. With Nuss still figuring out a way to replace the phenom Daniels, his partner in crime, Green may have ulterior motives. AFR LSU Tigers’ host shares why.

According to Moscona, Green has long been vocal about his first love: basketball. And he’s not just dabbling in the sport—he’s suiting up for LSU’s basketball team and has already made waves in his hardwood debut against Alabama. The concern, as Moscona aptly pointed out, isn’t just about Green’s talent—it’s about where his ceiling is highest. “Arguably the most exciting player on the LSU football team is going to have a tough decision to make,” the insider said. “Trey’Dez told me last spring his first true love is basketball. But here’s the problem. When you’re a 6’7″, 245-pound power forward, you’re just a guy in basketball. When you’re a 6’7″, 245-pound tight end in the SEC, you’re a freak show. We’ve seen it.”

It’s a stark contrast between the two sports: in football, Green’s rare combination of size, athleticism, and hands makes him a matchup nightmare. In basketball, those same attributes make him… well, just another big man in a sport littered with seven-footers. The numbers don’t lie. #14 hauled 13 receptions for 101 yards and four touchdowns in his freshman season, and is already making an impact on the field. His ability to be a red-zone target for Nussmeier is invaluable.

Tigers need a security blanket, and Green has the potential to be that guy. Yet, with LSU basketball head coach Matt McMahon now integrating him into the hoops rotation, the question becomes whether Green will follow his passion or chase his highest ceiling.

The good thing is that Brian Kelly and the LSU football staff signed a Top-10 recruiting class in December. Their 2025 class of Bayou Bengals added an embarrassment of riches on both sides of the field with DJ Pickett, the No. 1 rated CB in America, headlining the haul. But Green choosing basketball full-time would be a devastating blow to an offense in transition.

The yellow and purple’s head coach, whose recruiting prowess brought Green to Baton Rouge in the first place, now faces the challenge of convincing a player to set aside his “true love” for the sake of practicality, which isn’t an easy sell.

Brian Kelly will have an embarrassment of riches to work with in 25′

LSU Tigers made a splash in December, locking in a Top-10 recruiting class. And one of the crown jewels? None other than The Boot’s top wide receiver, TaRon Francis.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound playmaker was already one of Louisiana’s top three pass-catchers, but On3 Sports just made it official—Francis is now ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the state. That’s a major boost for an already loaded LSU class, and even better? Francis isn’t wasting any time getting to work.

The highly touted wideout arrived in Baton Rouge in early January as an early enrollee, putting him in a prime position to compete for real playing time from Day 1. With spring workouts and camp ahead, Francis has a golden opportunity to prove he belongs in LSU’s high-powered offense.

Brian Kelly’s 2025 roster is looking stacked. Transfer portal additions like offensive linemen Braelin Moore and Josh Thompson, plus the return of QB Nuss? But in the end, it’s wins and losses that count. Can Kelly and Co. deliver?