The flip volatility hits the LSU in the worst way possible. They have lost their most expensive gem, Bryce Underwood. After going a lot back and forth, the nation’s top QB prospect surrendered to Sherrone Morre’s lure. As many insiders and veterans already envisaged, a lucrative NIL deal from the Wolverines got in the way of Underwood’s apparent firm LSU commitment. Before Brian Kelly and the Tigers could cope with the woes, another one looms as DJ Pickett’s Michigan past rose to the surface.

Bryce Underwood has been the most prized catch for the Tigers. Despite thousands of outside distractions, the kid continued affirming his loyalty to Kelly and the team. When a random social media user posted about Michigan buying him with a better gamble call, the star QB laughed it off, making us believe he’s an exception in the highly unsettling recruiting reality and that the Wolverines really have to break a sweat to change his mind. However, the in-state boosters know what can work best to catch their key target. But now it seems it is 5-star CB DJ Pickett’s turn to follow suit. The No. 2 in the nation has a past Michigan connection. Digging out the history in Sherrone Moore’s favor, ON3‘s Steve Wiftlong asked, ‘‘I’m trying to remember back to like the beginning of DJ Pickett’s recruitment. Am I wrong that, like when DJ Pickett burst onto the scene early, Michigan, weren’t they the favorite for him, or at least the leader for him at one point?”

”Yes, very early in DJ Pickett’s process, Ohio State and Michigan were two Front Runners, and he visited up there quite a bit right,” Josh Newberg responded in a blink.

The kid looks quite solid in his LSU commitment. He is there in the games, and he is getting there to play SEC games. But the thing to be taken with a grain of salt is that, like most other verbal commits, he is not sleeping on his options. He is actively visiting schools like Miami and Georgia, keeping the race heated up. But it seems there will be a short breather time for coach Kelly as he will temporarily stop scheduling any more visits.

DJ Pickett closes out his school visit windows

In a chaotic flipping season, it’s quite a challenge to keep a quality commit safe from the outside lure. It becomes way more difficult when the talent itself invites it. Coming to DJ Pickett, he also garnered Mario Cristobal’s attention, and Miami became the frontrunner in his recruitment chase. Georgia and LSU, on the other hand, continue doing their homework. But to all their dismay, for the time being, the QB phenom closed out his visits.

After LSU had Pickett during their blowout win against Alabama, On3’s Wiltfong suggested, ”I talked to his dad Damien this morning about the visit. Outside of the outcome of the game, they had a fabulous time.” Adding to the intrigue, he revealed that Pickett’s dad said no more visits until December 8th, the result day for the program’s recruitment hard work.

It might be a good sign for Kelly if it denotes it will narrow down his options other than LSU. But it is a danger zone for the LSU coach if turning back at the visits implies he has already picked up his destination and it’s not LSU.

Food for thought, right? Regardless, Brain Kelly keeps losing his sleep unless and until December 8th arrives.