The Early Signing Period kicked off at 12:01 this morning, marking the first three-day window for student-athletes to sign a National Letter of Intent. For Brian Kelly and his recruiting staff, the Tigers hope to close the deal on 25 high school commitments in their 2023 class that enters the day ranked No. 4 .
High school and junior college prospects have until December 23 to sign their NLIs. If they do not sign by Friday, student-athletes must wait until National Signing Day on February 1 to make it official.
This will be your one-stop shop for today’s developments as the Tigers reel in another stellar class. Once prospects sign on the dotted line and the paperwork clears Compliance, they will be flipped from committed to signed, sealed, and delivered.
SIGNED
Four-star WR Shelton Sampson Jr. (6-3, 187) Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Catholic HS
Signed at 1:59 p.m. over offers from Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Auburn and others
– 63 catches for 899 yards and 13 TDs in 2022
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 12 WR and No. 83 player overall in America; No. 4 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 8 WR and No. 43 player overall in America; No. 4 overall in Louisiana
Four-star RB Kaleb Jackson (5-11, 222) Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Liberty Magnet HS
Signed at 1:58 p.m. over offers from Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, Michigan, Penn State, and others
– Injured foot in the first half of season opener and never returned in senior season
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 11 RB and No. 205 player overall in America; No. 8 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 10 RB and No. 174 player overall in America; No. 8 overall in Louisiana
Three-star IOL Paul Mubenga (6-4, 291) Buford (Georgia) Buford HS
Signed at 1:45 p.m. over offers from Michigan, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Auburn, Miami, and others
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 35 OT and No. 60 overall in Georgia
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 42 OT and No. 543 player overall in America; No. 56 overall in Georgia
Three-star CB Jeremiah Hughes (6-0, 176) Las Vegas (Nevada) Bishop Gorman HS
Signed at 1:30 p.m. over offers from Arkansas, Washington, Arizona, Tennessee, Utah, and others
– Picked off seven passes, broke up 3 others, and recorded 21 tackles as a senior
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 69 CB and No. 6 overall in Nevada
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 53 CB and No. 516 player overall in America; No. 5 overall in Nevada
Four-star linebacker Christian Brathwaite (6-1, 213) Cypress (Texas) Cy Ranch HS
Signed at 12:39 p.m. over offers from Baylor, TCU, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and others
– Logged 104 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks as a senior
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 26 LB in America and No. 52 overall in Texas
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 39 LB and No. 479 player overall in America; No. 75 overall in Texas
Four-star EDGE Jaxon Howard (6-4, 243) Minneapolis (Minnesota) Robbinsdale Cooper HS
Signed at 12:27 p.m. over offers from Minnesota, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, and others
– Recorded 103 tackles as a senior and also played tight end
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 19 EDGE and No. 130 player overall in America; No. 1 overall in Minnesota
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 18 EDGE and No. 120 player overall in America; No. 1 overall in Minnesota
Four-star TE Ka’Morreun Pimpton (6-6, 227) Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley HS
Signed at 12:17 p.m. over offers from Vanderbilt, Texas, Nebraska, Utah and others
– Caught 49 passes for 951 yards and 16 TDs in 2022 … Finished high school career with 85 receptions for 1,326 yards and 21 scores
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 12 TE and No. 213 player overall in America; No. 38 overall in Texas
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 16 TE and No. 297 player overall in America; No. 54 overall in Texas
Three-star CB Ashton Stamps (6-0, 167) Metairie (Louisiana) Archbishop Rummel HS
Signed at 12:04 p.m. over offers from Nebraska, Missouri, Tulane, and others
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 43 CB and No. 17 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 64 CB and No. 647 player overall in America; No. 26 overall in Louisiana
Four-star CB Javien Toviano (6-0, 186) Arlington (Texas) Martin HS
Signed at 11:59 a.m. over offers from Texas A&M, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, and others
– Picked off two passes and broke up three more, forced two fumbles and recovered one, and tallied 38 tackles in 12 games as a senior … A three-year starter in the secondary … Finished career with three interceptions, 19 passes broken up, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 106 stops
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 9 cornerback and No. 90 player overall in America; No. 16 overall in Texas
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 6 cornerback and No. 58 player overall in America; No. 9 overall in Texas
Four-star S Kylin Jackson (6-2, 196) Zachary (Louisiana) Zachary HS
Signed at 11:48 a.m. over offers from Texas A&M, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, South Carolina and others
– Picked off two passes as a senior and capped the junior season with 74 tackles, 11 pass breakups, an interception, and a fumble recovery
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 15 S and No. 198 player overall in America; No. 7 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 12 S and No. 183 player overall in America; No. 10 overall in Louisiana
Five-star DL Dashawn Womack (6-5, 244) Baltimore (Maryland) St. Frances Academy
Signed at 11:38 a.m. over offers from Maryland, Penn State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon, and other
– Registered 48 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and recovered 5 fumbles in leading his team to an 8-1 mark in 2022
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 3 EDGE and No. 27 player overall in America; No. 1 overall in Maryland
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 7 EDGE and No. 37 player overall in America; No. 1 overall in Maryland
Four-star OT Tyree Adams (6-6, 282) New Orleans (Louisiana) St. Augustine HS
Signed at 11:19 a.m. over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Texas A&M, Texas, and others
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 27 OT in America and No. 15 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 17 OT and No. 192 player overall in America; No. 11 overall in Louisiana
Four-star RB Trey Holly (5-7, 189) Farmerville (Louisiana) Union Parish HS
Signed at 11:08 a.m. over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Arizona, Arizona State and others
– Broke the state’s all-time rushing record (all divisions) with 10,523 yards during his high school career, eclipsing the previous mark of 8,704 set by Nick Brossette, who is now a member of the LSU football support staff … Scored 160 touchdowns with 146 on the ground … Capped career with 2,694 yards and 38 touchdowns in leading Union Parish to the LSHAA Division III State Championship game as a senior in 2022
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 42 RB and No. 25 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 14 RB and No. 226 player overall in America; No. 12 overall in Louisiana
Four-star S Ryan Yaites (6-0, 193) Denton (Texas) Guyer HS
Signed at 11 a.m. over offers from Oklahoma, California, Michigan State, Arkansas, and others
– Accounted for 63 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions as a senior … Played both corner and safety in high school
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 18 S and No. 233 player overall in America; No. 42 overall in Texas
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 21 S and No. 249 player overall in America; No. 41 overall in Texas
Three-star tight end Jackson McGohan (6-3, 213) Miamisburg (Ohio) Miamisburg HS
Signed at 10:46 a.m. over offers from Cincinnati, Auburn, Iowa, Oklahoma, Miami and others
– Capped off career with 52 catches for 941 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior … Grabbed 47 passed for 699 yards and 10 TDs in 2021
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 25 tight end in America and No. 16 overall in Ohio
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 26 tight end and No. 542 player overall in Americain; No. 17 overall in Ohio
Four-star LB Whit Weeks (6-3, 200) Watkinsville (Georgia) Oconee County HS
Signed at 10:32 a.m. over offers from Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and others
– Recorded 104 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions in 2022 added 396 yards on the ground and accounted for 16 touchdowns
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 11 LB and No. 134 player overall in America; No. 10 overall in Georgia
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 24 LB and No. 304 player overall in America; No. 2 overall in Georgia
Three-star WR Kyle Parker (5-11, 182) Lovejoy (Texas) Lucas HS
Signed at 10:17 a.m. over offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Arizona and others
– Caught 72 passes for 1,091 yards and 13 TDs in 2022 … Added 251 return yards, 172 rushing yards, with 1,514 all-purpose yards and 19 scores
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 56 WR and No. 70 overall in Texas
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 57 WR and No. 397 player overall in America; No. 66 overall in Texas
Four-star offensive tackle Zalance Heard (6-6, 308) Neville (Louisiana) Neville HS
Signed at 10:06 a.m. over offers from Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Florida State, Florida, and others
– First team Class 4A All-State in both 2021 and 2022
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 5 OT and No. 28 player overall in America; No. 2 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 4 OT and No. 28 player overall in America; No. 2 overall in Louisiana
Four-star athlete Khai Prean (6-0, 193) St. James (Louisiana) St. James HS
Signed at 9:45 a.m. over offers from Auburn, Florida State, Arkansas, Tennessee, Michigan and others
– Caught 61 passes for 1,097 yards and 14 TDs as a senior, averaging 18.0 yards per catch
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 18 ATH in America and No. 14 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 23 ATH and No. 397 player overall in America; No. 17 overall in Louisiana
Four-star TE Mac Markway (6-3, 243) Saint Louis (Mo.) De Smet HS
Signed at 9:30 a.m. over offers from Iowa, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and others
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 17 TE and No. 8 overall in Missouri
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 12 TE and No. 231 player overall in America; No. 7 overall in Missouri
Four-star offensive tackle DJ Chester (6-4, 315) McDonogh (Georgia) Eagles Landing Christian Academy
Signed at 9:30 a.m. over offers from Clemson, Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan and others
– Played all three positions on the offensive line during his prep career – center, guard and tackle
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 8 OT and No. 57 player overall in America; No. 5 overall in Georgia
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 12 OT and No. 139 player overall in America; No. 9 overall in Georgia
Four-star WR Jalen Brown (6-0, 165) Miami (Florida) Gulliver Prep HS
Signed at 9 a.m. over Texas A&M, Michigan, Miami, Florida, Florida State and others
– Caught 22 passes for 401 yards and 3 TDs in six games as a senior … Hauled in 111 passes during his prep career for 2,396 yards and 25 TDs
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 20 WR and No. 121 player overall in America; No. 29 overall in Florida
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 13 WR and No. 83 player overall in America; No. 17 overall in Florida
Three-star EDGE Dylan Carpenter (6-4, 234) St. Amant (Louisiana) St. Amant HS
Signed at 8:30 a.m. over offers from UL-Lafayette, Louisiana Tech, Rice, Tulane, Utah State and others
– Recorded 29 QB hurries, 17 tackles for loss and 7 sacks as a junior
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 44 EDGE in America and No. 20 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 54 EDGE and No. 569 player overall in America; No. 21 overall in Louisiana
Four-star QB Rickie Collins (6-2, 185) Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Woodlawn HS
Signed at 8:15 a.m. over offers from Purdue, Florida State, Arkansas, Nebraska, Oregon and others
– Connected on 127-of-209 passes for 1,512 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for another 598 yards and 6 scores as a senior … Passed for 1,930 yards and 16 TDs as a junior on his way to earning All-Metro and LSWA Class 5A All-State honors … In a 5-game season in 2020, totaled 1,449 yards and 16 TDs
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 15 QB and No. 230 player overall in America; No. 9 overall in Louisiana
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 16 QB and No. 233 player overall in America; No. 13 overall in Louisiana
Four-star S Michael Daugherty (6-0, 171) Loganville (Georgia) Grayson HS
Signed at 8 a.m. over offers from North Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and others
– In 44-game high school career, registered 184 tackles, 4 sacks, 11 pass breakups and an interception
– 247Sports Recruiting Rankings: No. 27 S and No. 27 overall in Georgia
– 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings: No. 38 S and No. 397 player overall in America; No. 39 overall in Georgia
LSU’S RECRUITING STAFF
LSU Recruiting Base and Recruiters to Know
Brian Polian: East Texas, Northwest and Central Louisiana, special teams
Joe Sloan: Baton Rouge, quarterbacks nationally
Frank Wilson: New Orleans, River Parishes, Parts of Georgia, Mississippi, running backs nationally
Cortez Hankton: Northshore, New Orleans, Houston, Parts of Georgia, wide receivers nationally
Jamar Cain: Houston, defensive linemen nationally
Kerry Cooks: Acadiana and Dallas, defensive backs nationally
Robert Steeples: Parts of Houston and Midwest, defensive backs nationally
Mike Denbrock: Southwest Louisiana, quarterbacks and tight ends nationally
Matt House: Bayou Parishes, linebackers nationally
Brad Davis: Northeast Louisiana, offensive linemen nationally
Sherman Wilson: Defensive Recruiting Specialist
Jordan Arcement: Offensive Recruiting Specialist
J.R. Belton: Director of Recruiting
Will Redmond: Director of Player Personnel
Corey Phillips: Associate Director of Player Personnel
Mike Ferrara: Associate Director of Player Personnel
Bobby Barham: Defensive Personnel Analyst
Carl St. Cyr: Offensive Personnel Analyst
