From the comfort of their home stadium in the middle of Baton Rouge, fans cheered as LSU thrashed UCLA 34-17. However, game was also abuzz with the presence of a five-star recruit. There is speculation that the No. 1 player in the market for the 2026 class is indeed the one who might be reclassifying to the 2025 class. This move has Tigers fans foaming at the mouth because they know that getting the player could tip the table in LSU’s favor. This is the kind of weekend that is needed for a program that is already loaded with talent.

On3’s Steve Wiltfong breaks down some of LSU’s decision-making processes, including their most significant recruitment on the On3 Recruits YouTube channel. Brian Kelly is locked in to finish the 2025 recruiting cycle on a roll, and the Tigers are targeting some massive flips. One name to watch? Jahkeem Stewart, the No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2026 class, thought he could reclassify to 2025. LSU may very well be the team on a little higher ground on this one.

LSU had the largest recruiting event on campus to open the season following the 34-17 win over UCLA, and all attention was on five-star commit Jahkeem Stewart. “The big news of the weekend was five-star defensive lineman, the number one player in the 2026 cycle, Jahkeem Stewart. He shows up in Baton Rouge. There are rumors that he’s going to reclassify up to 2025, meaning he’s going to be a prospect in this class. Now, he probably won’t be the number one overall prospect, that’s Bryce Underwood, but he probably will be very highly ranked. It would be a huge addition to what LSU currently has,” Wiltfong said.

The battle for Stewart is closely being felt, with Ohio State and USC being other institutions that are interested in recruiting him. However, it appears that LSU is that cut above. Jahkeem Stewart is a five-star defensive line prospect from Edna Karr High School in New Orleans who is the talent of the 2026 class. His 247Sports Composite score is 0.9989, and that makes him eligible to join the team, ranking number 3 in the entire nation and the state of Louisiana as the number one defensive lineman and the best in the state.

Stewart is a potential game-changer and undoubtedly is going to make a difference no matter which club he signs for. He has attended LSU games several times and has good relations with most Tigers staffers, particularly the defensive line coach, Bo Davis.

The recruiting momentum keeps building.

“Coming into the season, sources around Jahkeem Stewart were pointing towards Ohio State and USC being in a great position, but you and I both know that LSU is going to be a major factor in this one when it comes time to make a final decision,” Steve Wiltfong added. The home state factor may come in handy, as well as his relationship with Bo Davis could turn the tide. “He’s been to Death Valley several times, he camped with Bo Davis and the LSU staff in the summer, had a great experience, feels like Bo Davis can bring the best out of him.”

Now, LSU isn’t just stopping with Stewart, either. Other visitors included five-star cornerback DJ Picket, who has been on the Tigers campus developing his rapport with the team even after pledging to the Tigers over the summer period. Wiltfong also briefly spoke about his visit, “DJ Picket, the five-star corner who committed to LSU over the summer in July, was on the On3 Recruits Channel.”

Brian Kelly understands what the next few months will mean for his dreams. This alone will be huge for the Tigers, barring his reclassification to the 2025 class. There’s no doubt LSU’s staff is working to lock up the big fish anytime soon and if successful, they would cement this weekend’s standing as a recruiting juggernaut in the cycle.

Picket, a 6’1 ”, 170lb five-star cornerback from Zephyrhills High School in Tampa, FL, DJ Picket is one of the favorites in the entire 2025 class. Currently sitting at 80% chance of having him commit to the university from the trained model of 247Sports Crystal B—, he holds the position of the No.7 player across the country and the second-best cornerback. As LSU continues to court the talented commit, Picket could be a massive get for the Tigers on the defensive side of things.