LSU Football

Coveted wide receiver recruit Derek Meadows committed to play his college football at LSU on Saturday.

According to On3's Hayes Fawcett, Meadows chose LSU over several other high-profile programs, including Alabama, Notre Dame and Georgia, and explained his decision by saying: "To be the best you must outwork the rest, and LSU was the place to do it."

Meadows is a 4-star recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings, and is rated as the No. 68 overall player, No. 10 wideout and No. 1 player from the state of Nevada in the 2025 class.

Listed at 6'5" and 200 pounds, Meadows attends Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas where he has also starred in track and field.

Per 247Sports, Meadows was named the Nevada 2023 Gatorade Track and Field Player of the Year after taking first in the 300-meter hurdles and second in the 110-meter hurdles at the Nevada 5A state championship.

Given his unique blend of size and speed, it came as little surprise that so many of the top college football teams in the country recruited him.

Aside from LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame, Meadows also had scholarship offers from Michigan, Auburn, Florida, Michigan State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Washington, among others, according to 247Sports.

It is easy to see why Meadows chose LSU over the rest, given the Tigers' recent history of success in terms of churning out high-quality NFL prospects at the wide receiver position.

Since 2020, seven LSU wideouts have gotten drafted, including first-round picks Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Last season, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy after leading LSU's high-powered offense, and he helped both Nabers and Thomas put up huge numbers.

Daniels has since left for the NFL, but Brian Kelly-coached teams tend to enjoy a great deal of offensive success, and that likely had an impact on Meadows' decision.

LSU football will enter the 2024 season with a roster budget set between $14 million and $17 million, head coach Brian Kelly told Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

When asked if every school could match that budget, Kelly told Dellenger, "Everybody in the SEC."

Schools will be able to directly pay college athletes for the first time in NCAA history starting in fall 2025. This revenue sharing is expected to be capped at around $20 million.

LSU isn't the only school planning on spending the majority of that revenue-sharing limit on football. Most SEC schools plan to spend 75 percent of the cap on their football programs, Dellenger reported.

That focus makes sense considering the revenue football brings in to SEC schools like LSU, which reported $200.4 million in overall athletics revenue in 2023. More than half of that total, or $105.7 million, came from football, according to the school's most recent financial audit.

Kelly's statement comes one week after Tiger Athletic Foundation, the nonprofit supporting LSU athletics, announced an official partnership with the LSU-focused NIL collective Bayou Traditions.

The two groups will now form a single platform where donors can contribute to either LSU athletics as a whole or directly to NIL opportunities funded by the collective.

Contributions sent to the NIL collective do not currently count as charitable contributions, the foundation noted, although boosters can receive priority points for their donations.

Kelly told Dellenger he believes the partnership between LSU's foundation and collective is a temporary "bridge" that will be in place until schools can share money directly with athletes.

The next step, Kelly said, will be NIL agreements that entice students to join LSU, where they can then participate in revenue sharing.

"They become front-loaded contracts that expire in recruiting," Kelly told Dellenger. "They become the sweetener that gets you [to revenue sharing]. I don't see it being this big of an operation as it is right now."

It is not yet clear whether schools like LSU will be further limited in revenue-sharing distribution by Title IX rules.

Although the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights recently told ESPN's Paula Lavigne and Dan Murphy that Title IX will apply to revenue sharing, it is not yet clear if that means money must be equally distributed to men and women based on proportional roster spots. In that case, Dellenger reported that collectives could help increase the roster budgets for football and men's basketball.

Five-star cornerback DJ Pickett committed to LSU on Wednesday.

BREAKING: Five-Star Plus+ CB DJ Pickett has Committed to LSU, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’4 180 CB from Zephyrhills, FL chose the Tigers over Oregon & Miami

Ranked as the No. 3 Recruit in ‘25 (No. 1 CB) per On3

“Tiger Nation, I’m home 🐯”https://t.co/D7Mbdpn4o8 pic.twitter.com/sgpGkByT3B

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 17, 2024

"The deciding factor was him being happy," Pickett's father, Damien, said to Steve Wiltfong of On3. "Where he's happy on and off the field. Where he can grow as a young man.

"It was mostly football-based but also where he feels he can excel in the classroom and do the things in the classroom."

Pickett, who had Oregon and Miami as his two other finalists, is the No. 2 cornerback and No. 6 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2025 class.

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins evaluated the Florida native this month and compared him to Dallas Cowboys corner Nahshon Wright.

"Has dominated rural Florida-based competition the past few years, making an impact as both a wide receiver and a deep safety," Ivins wrote. "Has what it takes to emerge as a true game-breaker on offense with his size and foot speed, but ability to generate turnovers with his advanced ball skills while also mirroring in reverse makes him an intriguing option in both man and off-coverage."

As a junior at Zephyrhills High School, Pickett had 52 passes for 1,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense, he posted 31 tackles and one interception.

Two-way players are perhaps becoming a feature of college football again. Travis Hunter played wide receiver and defensive back for Colorado last year. Earlier this summer, Ohio State head coach told reporters safey Caleb Downs was attending some running back meetings.

Maybe Pickett could get some snaps at wideout when he arrives in Baton Rouge.

He joins a class that's fourth nationally in 247Sports' composite team rankings and is the third 5-star recruit from the group. Quarterback Bryce Underwood and running back Harlem Berry are the others.

The Tigers have 10 wins in each of Brian Kelly's two years as head coach. Fan expectations are only going to intensify moving forward, and Kelly is at least getting the talent that's necessary for LSU to contend for an SEC title.

Former LSU football coach Les Miles has filed suit against the school, the NCAA and the National Football Foundation in a bid to regain his eligibility for the College Football Hall of Fame.

After the Tigers vacated all of their wins from 2012 to '15, Miles' career winning percentage fell from .665 to .597. As a result, he fails to meet the .600 career win percentage threshold for Hall of Fame consideration.

His suit is centered around his candidacy, per multiple reports:

Miles' lawsuit also lists the NCAA and the National Football Foundation, which manages the Hall of Fame, as defendants. His longtime agent George Bass said LSU "promised us help in undoing this injustice" and then "went back on its word."

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) June 17, 2024

In a complaint filed against LSU, Les Miles challenges the decision to vacate wins cost him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.

He calls on the court to declare him eligible for CFBHOF and declare the vacated wins be considered wins so he's eligible for nomination. https://t.co/gR8g05biGR pic.twitter.com/kECLp3TkTv

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) June 17, 2024

LSU self-imposed the penalty that removed its wins across four seasons after the NCAA found former offensive lineman Vadal Alexander and his family received impermissible benefits. Alexander was retroactively ruled to be ineligible from 2012 through 2015.

Miles coached the Tigers for 12 years. He led them to a national championship in 2007 and a runner-up finish in 2011. Things steadily went downhill after that run to the BCS National Championship Game.

It looked like LSU was moving on from Miles following a 9-3 finish in 2015. Instead, he stayed on and was let go only four games into the 2016 campaign.

The 70-year-old returned to the coaching ranks with Kansas in 2019. The Jayhawks went 3-18 in his two years, and his time in Lawrence was arguably more costly toward his Hall of Fame case than anything that LSU ultimately decided.

Interesting in the Les Miles lawsuit. It says LSU "deprived" him of College Football Hall of Fame eligibility. Miles is at .5966 (.600 is needed for the hall) counting 37 vacated wins at LSU. He was 3-18 at Kansas. If he had won one more game -- 1! -- at Kansas (4-17 instead of…

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) June 17, 2024

When it comes to the lawsuit, Miles' legal team may face an uphill climb considering the vacating of wins is a common remedy when a program was deemed to have used an ineligible player. Just ask USC.

All things considered, Miles put together a Hall of Fame-worthy resume between his time at Oklahoma State and LSU. He took the Cowboys to three straight bowl appearances after they had qualified for one postseason bowl in the 12 years before he arrived. He then built on the foundation Nick Saban laid in Baton Rouge and made the Tigers a steady contender in the SEC.

Absent an intervention by the courts, though, Miles will remain on the outside looking in.

While NIL deals are undeniably a factor in many top recruits' collegiate decisions, LSU quarterback commit Bryce Underwood said his main focus is getting to the next level.

"It's mainly about what I'm trying to get to," Underwood said, per On3's Pete Nakos. "My main goal is the NFL, first draft pick. Money is going to be the last thing I'm thinking about until I get to the league."

Underwood is a 5-star recruit and is considered to be the top prospect in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports Composite. With that kind of prestige, the NIL deals are bound to come in for Underwood when he arrives in Baton Rouge. For now, he's focused on getting better and making an impact for the Tigers.

According to Nakos, Underwood opted to stay home in Belleville, Michigan, over the weekend rather than going to different campuses for official visits as other top recruits did. That move confirmed that he's satisfied with his decision to go to LSU and showed he's not interested in making schools go into NIL bidding wars for him.

In today's NIL-dominated climate, having a top player unconcerned with money is a rarity, and the Tigers seemingly have that in Underwood.

The reigning Michigan football Gatorade Player of the Year threw for 3,329 yards and 41 touchdowns last season and is looking to continue his dominance in the upcoming high school football season. After that, he'll begin his journey with LSU.

Five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore decommitted from LSU this week.

"After careful and extensive consideration, my family and I have decided that it is in my best interest to decommit from LSU," he said in a statement. "I want to emphasize that despite this decision, I will not be considering any recruitment offers."

Respect my decision🙏🏾! pic.twitter.com/c35MCxqiBV

— 𝓓𝓪𝓴𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓻𝓮🃏 (@thereal_kori2x) May 17, 2024

Moore is the No. 1 wideout and third-best overall prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2025 class.

Ohio State, Texas, Oregon and Alabama were among the notable schools that had offered him a scholarship. Three experts from 247Sports project the Duncanville, Texas, native to stay home and land with the Longhorns.

Arch Manning will be in his third season by 2025, which makes Texas an attractive landing spot for a skilled pass-catcher. Head coach Steve Sarkisian can also point to Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell being selected in the first and second round of the 2024 NFL draft respectively to show he can help to develop wide receivers.

Losing Moore is a blow to LSU, but the Tigers remain sixth in 247Sports' composite team rankings for 2025. They have a commitment from Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 quarterback, along with 4-star running back Harlem Berry.

Head coach Brian Kelly and his staff have plenty of time to look elsewhere for help at the receiver position as well. A number of the top-ranked players remain uncommitted.

Brian Kelly made LSU's approach to the transfer portal abundantly clear on Tuesday.

The Tigers' head coach told WAFB-TV Sports that LSU wouldn't be buying players while asked for an update on the team's search for more defensive lineman:

We were in the market, in the transfer portal, looking for defensive lineman. It hasn't fared very well, quite frankly, because we are selling something a little bit differently. And that is, we want to recruit. We want to engage, build relationships. We want to develop, retain, and have success. We're not in the market of buying players. And unfortunately, right now, that's what some guys are looking for. They want to be bought. ... We're not going to go out and buy players.

College football recruiting has changed in the age of the transfer portal and NIL deals that allow college athletes to profit and earn sponsorships. While it has given players the opportunity to cash in on a multibillion-dollar business, it has also forced coaches to change their approach to enticing players to join, and stay with, their program.

And the notion that LSU itself isn't buying players is... debatable, at best:

EVERYONE is in the market of buying players. (It's 2024 and you're not at Notre Dame anymore. You can just say it.)

But if you say "We're not interested in paying way above market value just because demand outstrips supply at this very moment," it's probably true. https://t.co/kMZ78h9ddy

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) May 7, 2024

https://twitter.com/alex_kirshner/status/1788002524328288363

if they didnt buy players they would lose every SEC game by many scores.

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) May 8, 2024

Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for LSU because of the relationships and development opportunities. pic.twitter.com/X0XszJV4Mm

— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) May 8, 2024

The other irony in Kelly's comments is that he is one of many prominent football coaches whose services were bought for millions of dollars. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Baby Gronk has revealed the top 30 schools he's interested in playing football for.

The social media star posted his list of schools on X last week, including Colorado, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and many other Power 5 programs.

BABY GRONKS TOP 30 ! pic.twitter.com/xRkBmxatJ1

— BABY GRONK (@BabyGronk5) May 2, 2024

Madden San Miguel, who is mostly known by his nickname, Baby Gronk, still has a long way to go before it will be time for him to make a commitment, as he's just 11 years old, but his fans now know which schools he's interested in.

Baby Gronk is a Texas native, so it makes sense that both Texas and Texas A&M made his list, but there are a few other programs that he has connections to. Baby Gronk has made collaboration videos with LSU gymnastics star Livvy Dunne, so perhaps she could help recruit him to play for the Tigers.

But over the years, Baby Gronk has indicated varying college plans. In 2021, Baby Gronk verbally committed to Oregon, but he also made an Instagram post last July committing to LSU.

With plenty of time left before college, Baby Gronk has plenty of time to make his decision, but he'll have to earn some offers first. If he can go on to have a strong high school football career, perhaps he will start getting some calls from the teams on his top-30 list.

Five years ago, LSU's offense had four players who ended up being Round 1 picks in 2020 or 2021 in quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

The 2024 season will see three more first-rounders in quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner, crushed the competition en route to 50 total touchdowns (40 passing, 10 rushing), 3,812 passing yards and 1,134 rushing yards. Nabers led the Tigers in receiving with 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Thomas put up WR1 numbers as a WR2 (68/1,177/17).

Needless to say, that's not all that easy to do in the SEC, but that trio of Tigers got it done.

They rightfully heard their names called early. Daniels went second to the Washington Commanders, while Nabers is the new WR1 for the New York Giants at sixth overall. Thomas is headed to Jacksonville at No. 23 overall.

Other LSU players should get off the board as well. The Tigers have some good defensive line talent going pro in Maason Smith, Mehki Wingo and Jordan Jefferson.

Keep an eye out on Smith in particular, as B/R had him as a Round 3 prospect going into the draft with a pro comparison to the potential of being Calais Campbell, the six-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman. He ended up going Round 2 to the Jaguars, joining Thomas.

And with that, here's a look at the Tigers and where they all ended up.

LSU NFL Draft Prospect List

WR Malik Nabers: New York Giants (Round 1, Pick 6)

WR Brian Thomas Jr.: Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, Pick 23)

QB Jayden Daniels: Washington Commanders (Round 1, Pick 2)

DL Maason Smith: Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 2, Pick 48)

DL Mekhi Wingo: Detroit Lions (Round 6, Pick 189)

DL Jordan Jefferson: Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 4, Pick 116)

IOL Charles Turner III

S Andre' Sam

LB Omar Speights

EDGE Ovie Oghoufo

List courtesy of NFL.com.

A grand jury charged LSU running back Trey Holly with one felony count of illegal use of a weapon or dangerous instrumentality but dismissed a murder charge against him on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Holly was suspended by LSU after he turned himself in to police on Feb. 15 regarding a shooting in an apartment complex the week prior in Farmerville, Louisiana.

Two people were injured and Holly was charged with three felonies, which included the second-degree attempted murder charge that was dismissed on Friday and one count of aggravated criminal damage to property.

Holly said in a social media post at the time that he was innocent on all accounts:

pic.twitter.com/xau9McsUcQ

— Trey Holly (@DrippyTrey2) February 18, 2024

"We look forward to trial before a fair and impartial jury in Union Parish after which I am confident that a verdict of not guilty will be returned," Holly's attorney, Mike Small, told reporters on Friday, adding that his client would plead not guilty.

Two other people were arrested in the incident.

According to Wilson Alexander of NOLA.com, "The Union Parish Sheriff's Office, which conducted the investigation, determined three people fired multiple rounds. UPSO found the shooting stemmed from earlier altercations at a nearby apartment complex."

Holly, a redshirt freshman at LSU, appeared in three games during the 2023 season.