Slowly but steady, Brian Kelly seems to be building back the LSU Tigers.
Of course it’s all relative, but LSU fans are used to their program being in the elite class of college football. While Kelly hasn’t set the world on fire just yet, he certainly seems to be headed in the right direction.
Under Kelly’s leadership, LSU has posted a 20-7 record, secured two bowl victories, and reestablished itself as a premier destination for top-tier recruits with ambitions of winning titles and eventually heading to the NFL.
The latest addition to Kelly’s talent-laden program is 2025 four-star recruit Kade Phillips.
“BREAKING: Four-Star CB Kade Phillips has Flipped his Commitment from Texas to LSU, he tells me for
@on3recruits … The 6’1 180 CB from Missouri City, TX had been Committed to the Longhorns since July … Ranked as a Top 65 Recruit in ‘25 (No. 7 CB) per On3,” Hayes Fawcett reported on X.
While most will point to NIL potentially playing a factor in Phillips’ decision to ditch Texas for LSU, the fact that Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian lost him, especially to a (new) SEC rival, is certainly notable.
The 6’1″, 180-pound cornerback from Missouri City, Texas, had been committed to the Texas Longhorns since July.
Phillips isn’t just making waves on the football field at Fort Bend Hightower High School; he’s also a standout in track and field, excelling at the state level in both the long jump and the 200-meter sprint.
However, when he arrives in Baton Rouge, Kelly and his coaching staff will be looking for more than just speed.
Phillips has been praised as a “sound open-field tackler” by 247 Sports’ Hudson Standish, a skill that will be crucial as he faces off against the SEC’s elite wide receivers.
LSU’s 2025 recruiting class is already shaping up to be one of the best in the nation. Only Ohio State currently boasts a stronger class, according to 247 Sports.
The Tigers have already secured commitments from 24 players, including 20 who are rated as either five-star or four-star recruits.
LSU’s class is heavy on defensive talent, with Phillips becoming the fourth defensive back to commit, joining DJ Pickett, Jhase Thomas, and CJ Jimcoily – all of whom bring considerable size to the secondary.
As noted by Wilson Alexander of NOLA News, “LSU has four DBs in the 2025 class. One trait they all share: length.”
While 2025 is looking bright for LSU, Kelly’s 2024 class is nothing to scoff at either, ranking 7th nationally per 247 Sports.
Despite losing star players like Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and 1,000-yard receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. to the NFL, LSU returns 13 starters from a team that went 10-3 last season, keeping them firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation.
However, the path to the playoffs will be filled with challenges.
LSU’s 2024 schedule is a gauntlet, featuring home games against Ole Miss, Alabama, and Oklahoma, as well as road trips to Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Florida. They’ll also kick off the season with a tricky neutral-site game against USC.
Yet, even with two or three losses, LSU could still be in the mix when College Football’s Selection Sunday rolls around.
When it comes to Phillips, Texas’ loss is LSU’s gain…and it’s another sign that Kelly could be building a monster in Baton Rouge.
What are your thoughts on Phillips decision to flip from the Longhorns to the Tigers???