LSU football has wrapped up spring practice, and while the countdown to Week 1 is officially on, summer is shaping up to be just as critical—especially on the recruiting trail. This is the time when top prospects start narrowing their lists, and for a Tigers squad looking to build long-term depth, landing the right talent in the 2027 class could make all the difference. Here are three positions head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff absolutely need to target.
1. Offensive Line
This is the most pressing need on the board. Looking at LSU's projected starting five, the only player likely to still be in Baton Rouge after this season is right tackle Weston Davis—and he enters a "prove-it" year after a rough 2025 campaign. There is some young talent to work with: sophomore guard Devin Harper, redshirt freshman guard Solomon Thomas, redshirt sophomore center William Satterwhite II, redshirt freshman tackle Derrin Strey, and true freshman tackle Brysten Martinez. But to turn the offensive line from a question mark into a team strength, the Tigers need to land some high-impact recruits who can develop into anchors for the future.
2. Edge Rusher
Kiffin and his staff made some serious noise this offseason by signing the No. 1 edge rusher in the country, Princewill Umanmielen, along with former five-star Jordan Ross. But here's the catch: Umanmielen is out of eligibility after this season, and Ross—a junior—never quite lived up to his five-star billing during his time at Tennessee. The Tigers need to reload at this position to keep the pass rush fierce for years to come.
3. Defensive End
LSU also landed the No. 1 overall player in the country this offseason, Lamar Brown, who is set to play defensive end under coordinator Blake Baker. Brown mostly lined up at three-technique in high school, but the staff is confident he'll transition smoothly. The Tigers also added four-star Trenton Henderson, who has bulked up significantly this offseason and could make an immediate impact. Still, with only a few proven bodies in the rotation, adding more talent at defensive end is crucial to keeping the defense dominant long-term.