Lamar Brown is storming through the 2026 recruiting class. The elite multi-sport athlete has made his mark at University Lab High School, and it was enough to get noticed by Brian Kelly and his staff. The U-high lineman stunned the LSU camp, working under LSU defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey. “It was good getting to know him (Lindsey), it was my first time meeting him. He’s a cool dude.”  Brown was impressed at the first meeting itself, but there was another reason why Brown was leaning towards making Baton Rouge his future home. “LSU, that’s big for me. Hometown, 15 minutes away from where I’m from.” Still, the five-star standout didn’t stop exploring other schools. And it seems one of those ‘other programs’ is gaining some serious hype. Now, is this a brewing danger for Kelly? Too early to speculate. But a wake-up call? Yes.

The Longhorns extended an offer to Brown back in January. Even though this will be his first reported visit to Austin since his offer and he has not had the Longhorns among his top four schools, Texas apparently has remained in the race for Brown. All thanks to his ties to new defensive ends coach LaAllan Clark. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder was supposed to visit Florida State on June 6. He has reworked his schedule and canceled his trip to Tallahassee. Now, the Longhorns will host Brown on that date, which will precede his visits to Texas A&M and LSU.

But it’s more than a courtesy call from Brown’s side. He is looking to deepen his ties with the Texas coaching crew, especially with Clark. “I like Texas a lot right now. I’m a big relationship guy. Coach Clark knows me from a standpoint beyond football,” the 5-star DL said on his growing inclination over the Longhorns, “If I’m in a room with him, he knows me on the field, off the field.”

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Brown has an unprecedented love for the home-state school. His relationship with multiple coaching staffs matches no other. However, LSU’s replacement for defensive line coach Bo Davis might have an impact on his final decision.

Bo Davis is off to the NFL to coach for the New Orleans Saints. Those who have grown under Davis’s tutelage, both as targeted recruits and athletes, will certainly fill the void under their belt. Brown isn’t an exception. However, easing out the tension a bit around Baton Rouge, he has clarified his stance, tweeting, “MY recruitment doesn’t change for me Tigers still #1,” right after the Bo Davis blow.

But that did anything but keep other suitors away from Brown.

Lamar Brown’s decision will hinge on a major point 

Brown has made it clear, he sees his future in the defensive line, and he won’t prefer the offensive lineman status. His capability to transform a defense didn’t go unnoticed by the high school grit. His incredible frame, with an ability to add weight seamlessly, has been a huge plus in his films.

Lamar Brown is No. 1 athlete per On3’s industry rankings and No. 8 prospect in the country. No wonder the Louisiana native garnered a total of 33 FBS offers on his table. His move, as a difference maker in the defense, will potentially shape the SEC battle. Of course, he can provide a lot of front-line versatility to the offense as well, but he isn’t willing to. That’s the pivot here.

Brown told On3’s Chad Simmons, “It really came down to me deciding to play defensive line in college. A lot of schools wanted to play offensive line, but those four schools were the ones recruiting me the hardest as a defensive lineman.” Surprisingly, Longhorns didn’t cut to those four schools, namely Florida, Miami, LSU, and Texas A&M. They are relatively new to the battle, but they are no longer a dark horse! After all, Sarkisian knows his game!