Brian Kelly is dominating Louisiana in the 2026 recruiting cycle. LSU has secured seven key in-state commitments, proving the Tigers’ strong home-turf advantage. The group includes offensive lineman Richard Anderson, wide receiver Jabari Mack, versatile athlete Aiden Hall, defensive lineman Brysten Martinez, linebacker Kenny Darby, and EDGE rusher Jalan Chapman, all from Louisiana. LSU’s local talent grip is alive and well in Baton Rouge, with their 7th in-state commit just joining the crew.

On June 28, LSU Tigers on SI’s Zack Nagy broke the news: LSU has landed a commitment from Louisiana’s No. 2 athlete, Dezyrian Ellis. The two-way standout made it official Saturday, choosing the Tigers in a big-time weekend move.

Ellis, a dynamic playmaker, will suit up in purple and gold as a cornerback under DB guru Corey Raymond. So, another elite talent stays home. Another recruiting win for Brian Kelly. And the in-state wall in Baton Rouge is holding strong.

“We bout’ to get a dog at LSU,” said Corey Raymond—and he meant it. Dezyrian Ellis may have been a first-team Class 4A All-State QB last season, but he’s headed to Baton Rouge to lock things down at corner. So, LSU sees star potential on defense, even if West Virginia pitched him on playing QB, per On3. Now, with Ellis bringing athleticism and a winner’s mindset, Raymond has a new weapon—and LSU’s secondary just got even scarier.

Ellis, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound athlete ranked No. 547 nationally and No. 12 in Louisiana (per 247Sports Composite), also brings length and versatility to LSU’s secondary. He becomes the second cornerback in LSU’s class, joining 4-star Havon Finney—the No. 5 CB in the country out of California. With 11 commits now on board, LSU holds the No. 6 spot in the 2026 recruiting rankings. The headliner? Five-star WR Tristen Keys. The Tigers are working hard to keep him home. And the battle isn’t over—they’re firmly in the hunt for five-star lineman Lamar Brown, the No. 1 player in Louisiana. So, Brian Kelly’s class is filling up fast, and the momentum is real in Baton Rouge.

Although Ellis has been a standout offensive weapon for Franklin Parish, LSU sees his future on the other side of the ball—as a DB. And with Raymond leading the charge, that transition feels like the perfect fit. “Coach Raymond is my guy. He does a great job of keeping in touch with me, and he’s always upfront about everything and doesn’t sugarcoat any expectations,” Ellis said to TigerBait earlier this spring.

So, it’s clear Ellis is wired to compete. “What I’m looking for in a program is success,” he said. “I’m a winner, and I love to win.” Honestly, LSU’s got a dog in the fight—and a future playmaker in the secondary. Now, Brian Kelly is gaining real momentum on the recruiting trail—and like it or not, he’s been better than most give him credit for. Well… sort of.

Will Brian Kelly’s magic start to show at LSU?

It’s easy to poke fun at Brian Kelly with all the rants, memes, and Texas Bowl jokes. Notre Dame fans especially love comparing him to Marcus Freeman, since Kelly left for LSU chasing championships but hasn’t fully delivered. However, behind all the noise, Kelly has quietly built something solid at LSU. It hasn’t been perfect, but he deserves more credit than he usually gets—mostly.

LSU hasn’t touched SEC gold yet under Brian Kelly, and the national title talk still feels distant. The Tigers got steamrolled by Georgia in the 2022 title game, just a week after falling to a struggling Texas A&M squad. Well, Kelly’s also 0-3 in season openers, and last year’s team faded when it mattered most. So, the defense? Still a work in progress.

In just three seasons at LSU, Brian Kelly has quietly built an impressive track record, boasting a 29-11 overall record and matching or surpassing the double-digit win seasons of programs like Kentucky, South Carolina, and Mississippi State over the years. He’s even outpaced Texas A&M’s total wins since they left the SEC. While his 39 wins, three bowl victories, and a Heisman winner in three years would be statue-worthy anywhere else—especially considering last year’s nine-win campaign was his first time missing double digits in eight seasons—at LSU, the standard is national titles.

With the last three head coaches delivering championships (Les Miles in Year Three, Nick Saban and Ed Orgeron in Year Four), Season Four in Baton Rouge means one thing for Kelly: it’s championship or nothing.