Alright, y’all, let’s talk about LSU. Head Coach Brian Kelly? Oh, he’s cooking something spicy down in Baton Rouge, and the rest of college football might wanna buckle up. Have you ever seen a move so clean, so ruthless, it leaves the competition straight shook? That’s what just went down when a 5-star wide receiver made his decision.

Tristen Keys, the No. 1 ranked wide receiver and No. 3 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings, just dropped the mic on the entire recruiting scene. He had official visits lined up for the summer, big-time stops like Alabama and Tennessee—the Vols were even the favorites. But LSU? They ain’t about to let that slide. Kelly and his staff went all-in and locked down the Hattiesburg High standout before he even stepped foot on those other campuses. How’s that for flexing?

“It was the best place for me to get to the next level in life and football,” Keys told 247Sports’ Tom Loy. “Even if football doesn’t work out, I’ll be successful in life just by going to LSU. You see Angel Reese, you see Malik Nabers, you see Jetta [Justin Jefferson], you see Shaq, all of them. They are known for going to LSU. They develop you in every way possible.”

Keys is LSU’s seventh commitment for the 2026 cycle, but here’s the wild part—he’s the first one not from Louisiana. The kid’s already putting the Tigers on his back, joining a stacked group that includes 4-star studs Kenny Darby and Jakai Anderson. And with Tristen Keys on board, LSU just jumped to the No. 1 spot in On3’s recruiting rankings with a total score of 94.383. Yep, you heard that right. Kelly’s got ‘em sitting pretty at the top, ahead of juggernauts like USC and Oregon.

Brian Kelly’s big praise for the 2025 transfer class

And if you think Brian Kelly’s just chilling off this Tristen Keys and No.1 recruiting class dub, think again. Brian Kelly’s been snatching talent from the transfer portal like it’s Black Friday. Back in December, LSU went all-in, signing 16 players to beef up the squad with eyes locked on the playoff in 2025. And let’s be real, most of them are out here grinding at spring practice like they got something to prove.

“It is business, I mean they are here to win a championship, and they take their craft serious, they go to work and it’s fun,” Kelly said. That’s just the type of vibe you get from a coach who knows he’s got the keys to a national championship run.

Take Jack Pyburn, for instance. The Florida transfer was a beast last year with 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a sack. The man’s already talking like he’s the best defensive end against the rush. “Being a good pass rusher is believing I could be a good pass rusher and I feel like that I have all of the tools to be a great pass rusher, even an elite pass rusher,” Pyburn said. “It’s just a mental switch in having that belief and a big part of coming here was giving myself a new experience and reminding myself, I can do those things.”

And let’s not forget Bauer Sharp, the tight end transfer from Oklahoma. Guy led the Sooners last season with 42 catches and 324 yards. And he’s already talkin’ smack about being the most versatile tight end in the country. “I’m faster than most tight ends in the country. That’s what I take pride in…my speed, but I can also block, I took pride in that last year,” Sharp said.

Bottom line? Brian Kelly’s building something fierce at LSU. And if the hype’s real, the Tigers might just be the squad everyone’s gunning for come playoff time. Whatever he’s cooking up with Garrett Nussmeier, Tristen Keys, and Co, it’s gonna leave the SEC—and the rest of college football—scrambling to catch up.