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Eli Lederman
Lamar Brown, a highly regarded defensive tackle recognized as ESPN’s top-rated prospect in the 2026 class, declared his commitment to LSU on Thursday, marking a significant triumph in local recruiting for head coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers.
Brown, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound defensive standout hailing from Erwinville, Louisiana, revealed his decision on “SportsCenter” from a gathering at University Laboratory School, situated on the LSU campus approximately 1 mile east of Tiger Stadium.
Brown opted for LSU over Texas A&M, Miami, and Texas following formal visits with each of the aforementioned programs this spring. Should Brown maintain his No. 1 ranking in the ESPN 300 and officially sign later this year, he will represent the Tigers’ first top-ranked recruit since Leonard Fournette in 2014.
“It’s an opportunity that few kids from Baton Rouge get, in truth,” Brown shared with ESPN regarding his commitment to LSU. “Everyone aspires to compete at Tiger Stadium. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to play there.”
Despite strong local connections and the university’s geographical proximity to Brown, LSU encountered a challenging, last-minute recruiting competition with SEC adversary Texas A&M to retain ESPN’s premier 2026 defender in his home state.
According to sources within ESPN, Brown had not made a final decision between the two universities until late Wednesday night. Individuals associated with both the Tigers and Aggies football programs maintained optimistic outlooks Thursday morning prior to Brown informing each coaching staff of his ultimate decision shortly before his announcement ceremony.
Texas A&M, the initial major program to engage in Brown’s recruitment, sustained confidence through the concluding phases on Thursday, fueled by the program’s extensive recruiting endeavors with the adaptable, two-position lineman over the preceding two years.
The Aggies hosted Brown on at least eight occasions after June 1, 2024, and Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko and his coaching staff made frequent visits to Brown during his sophomore and junior years at University Lab. Brown conveyed to ESPN that he cultivated close relationships with Aggies defensive line coaches Sean Spencer and Tony Jerod-Eddie throughout his recruitment.
“We explored every available avenue,” an individual associated with the Texas A&M football program stated to ESPN.
Texas A&M even seemed to gain momentum in Brown’s decision-making process the previous month. Following an official visit with the Aggies, Brown posted: “Believe this one concludes the process…” on social media on June 14 and temporarily postponed a scheduled visit to LSU set for the subsequent weekend.
Brown subsequently rescheduled the official visit with the Tigers from June 20-22, a weekend which ultimately influenced his choice to remain near home and become the second five-star commit in LSU’s 2026 class.
“They treated it with utmost importance,” Brown commented regarding his late-June visit with LSU. “They presented a comprehensive overview of what it entails to be a Tiger, the experience of being a player there for three or four years, and also the prospects in life beyond football. Remaining local, the extensive resources and brand-building opportunities available here, all made compelling sense to me.”
Initially considered as both a defensive and offensive line prospect prior to focusing primarily on defense this spring, Brown participates on both sides of the ball at University Lab. He has accumulated 91 tackles and eight sacks over his past three varsity seasons, and Brown is projected to be a talented defender capable of performing across the defensive line at the collegiate level.
Poised to become the Tigers’ first top-five signee since Harold Perkins (No. 4 in the 2024 ESPN 300), Brown now joins five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys (No. 10 overall) at the forefront of the Tigers’ 2026 class, which will ascend to the verge of the top 10 in ESPN’s 2026 class rankings upon his commitment.
Brown is one of 10 ESPN 300 recruits committed to LSU in the current recruiting cycle. He joins defensive end Trenton Henderson (No. 61 overall) and defensive tackle Richard Anderson (No. 93), heading a defensive class that also features commitments from safety Aiden Hall (No. 126) and cornerbacks Havon Finney Jr. (No. 72) and Dylan Purter (No. 223).
The Tigers could potentially strengthen their defensive line next month with four-star prospect Deuce Geralds, ESPN’s No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2026 class, scheduled to announce his commitment on Aug. 2. Four-star offensive lineman Darius Gray (No. 73 overall) also continues to be a high-priority target for LSU.
Brown’s commitment leaves just four uncommitted recruits among ESPN’s 23 five-star prospects in the 2026 class, a group spearheaded by No. 1 running back Derrek Cooper (No. 7 overall). Tight end Kaiden Prothro (No. 19) is anticipated to be the next five-star to make a decision, with the pass catcher slated to announce his choice between Florida, Georgia, and Texas on Saturday afternoon.
