Lane Kiffin’s Strong Start at LSU

Lane Kiffin has kicked off his time at LSU on a positive note, securing the nation’s top recruit and keeping the best coordinator in place.

The Tigers have signed defensive tackle Lamar Brown, who is recognized as the top recruit in the country by both ESPN and Rivals.com.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Brown hails from Irwinville, Louisiana. He had verbally committed to LSU during the summer while former coach Brian Kelly was still at the helm. He finalized his commitment by signing his letter of intent on Friday, coinciding with the last day of the three-day early signing period.

Additionally, LSU’s incoming freshman class includes two other defense players ranked in the top 100: linemen Deuce Geralds (37th) and Richard Anderson (90th).

According to ESPN, LSU’s overall signing class ranks as the No. 14 group nationally.

“A few midseason losses provided LSU with a second chance, and the team managed to keep its No. 1 overall prospect,” ESPN’s Craig Haubert commented, noting that the Tigers successfully fended off competition from various top programs, including Texas A&M, to retain Brown. He described Brown as a nimble athlete who could excel on the defensive line or shift to offensive lineman if needed.

Kiffin officially transitioned from Ole Miss to LSU last weekend under a seven-year contract worth $91 million. He has also retained LSU’s defensive coordinator, Blake Baker, who had been considered for head coaching roles elsewhere.

In just a week, Kiffin holds an impressive 11-1 record at Mississippi State and is busy putting together a recruiting class and coaching team in Baton Rouge.

Interestingly, Kiffin’s ambitions to coach Mississippi State during the College Football Playoff were rebuffed by AD Keith Carter before he was fully hired to replace Kelly, who was let go back in October.

As for their new team, Pete Golding has been named the full-time coach for the Rebels.