Elite LSU football recruiting target reveals decision day
ESPN and Rivals both rank Geralds as the No. 2 defensive tackle in the class of 2026. On3 and 247Sports aren't quite as high, but both slot Geralds as a top-200 prospect. On3's Industry Rankings place Geralds No. 95 overall and No. 6 at his position.
Geralds is a Georgia native, playing his high school ball at Collins Hill. But UGA is out of the race for the blue-chip defensive lineman.
There's no clear front runner for Geralds and there's yet to be a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction.
LSU has been recruiting Geralds for some time now. He's a Baton Rouge native and Geralds father has ties to LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson.
Geralds doesn't count as a "Louisiana recruit," but we've seen LSU have success landing recruits who were born in the Boot before moving away.
Before Geralds commits next month, LSU will learn the fate of five-star defensive tackle Lamar Brown on Thursday, July 10. If LSU misses on Brown, the Tigers could turn up the heat on Geralds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
40 minutes ago
- USA Today
10 underrated SEC players who could impact the college football playoff race
The race for the SEC title is wide open as the 2025 college football season inches closer. The top contenders are clear -- Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU all figure to be in the mix. You have your sleepers, too. Texas A&M is looking to take the next step, and Ole Miss wants to prove it can hang with the top of the sport. But the SEC's contenders all have their fair share of questions. For any of the aforementioned squads to reach their goals, they will need some breakout performances. Players who aren't seen as stars now will need all-conference campaigns. Today, we'll look at 10 underrated players who will impact the SEC football championship race in the 2025 season. Even a handful of these guys aren't on teams that can win the whole thing, but they'll play a role. Auburn and Tennessee probably won't take home the SEC title, but they can still affect the race by punching above their weight. Think of the players on this list as leverage points for their respective teams. Auburn offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin Finding good offensive linemen in the transfer portal is rare, but Auburn landed a promising offensive tackle in Xavier Chaplin. Chaplin spent the first three years of his career at Virginia Tech and was ranked as the No. 14 player in the portal, per On3's Industry Rankings. Chaplin brings over 1,400 snaps of experience to Auburn's offensive line. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 338 pounds, he's got the size to play SEC football. Auburn needs the offense to take a step forward in 2025, especially the passing game. The offensive line created run lanes in 2024, but protecting the QB was a struggle. Chaplin aims to solve that. The Tigers have a star-studded WR group, and if the offensive line is good, Auburn's offense can get away with average QB play. Auburn won't compete for an SEC title, but if Hugh Freeze figures some things out, they can pull some upsets and still impact the SEC race. For that to happen, Chaplin needs to have an All-SEC caliber season. Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette Phil Steele lists Daylen Everette on his preseason first-team All-SEC squad, so it's a stretch to say the Georgia cornerback is flying under the radar. But he's not the first guy that comes to mind when you think of players who will impact the playoff race. UGA's defense ranked in the 64th percentile in EPA/dropback allowed last year. That's good, but below the high standard Kirby Smart's defense has set for itself. The Dawgs' defense is looking to get back to an elite level this fall, and an All-SEC performance from Everette would certainly help. The veteran corner had a strong 2024, recording three interceptions and posting a 73.3 coverage grade, per PFF. But Georgia has questions at the other cornerback spot. UGA doesn't know what it's going to get from Daniel Harris, which makes an elite showing from Everette paramount. Texas defensive back Jelani McDonald Texas is losing key pieces on the backend with Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba off to the next level. But don't expect a steep drop-off -- the room is still filled with talent, including Jelani McDonald. McDonald only played one snap as a true freshman in 2023 but saw 477 snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2024. Now entering year three, he's primed for a starting role. McDonald finished the year strong with five stops vs. Arizona State before recording a 78.4 PFF grade vs. Texas. He's a versatile defender who can play true safety or in the slot. McDonald is stout vs. the run and figures to take another step forward in pass coverage. The Texas DB has All-SEC upside, and if he emerges, there won't be many questions about Texas' defense, and the Longhorns are set for another playoff run. LSU defensive end Patrick Payton LSU signed the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country, which included Patrick Payton from Florida State. Brian Kelly and the Tigers are hoping to compete for a playoff spot, but LSU needs its new look defensive end room to deliver. That starts with Payton. Payton brings over 1,500 career snaps from FSU and played a pivotal role on the Seminoles' elite defense in 2023, racking up 44 pressures and seven sacks. In his career, he has 90 pressures to go along with 68 stops. LSU lost the bulk of its edge defender production, and an experienced defender like Payton is just what LSU needed. The Tigers feel good about their cornerback and linebackers. If Payton emerges as a true pass rush threat, LSU's defense has a chance to be elite, and the Tigers will contend for a national title. Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard Ryan Williams gets much of the attention in Alabama's wide receiver room, and deservedly so. But Bama has one of the top WR duos in the SEC with Germie Bernard working alongside Williams. Bernard can stretch the field. He caught 56.3% of deep targets in 202,4, and that was with the inconsistent quarterback play from Jalen Milroe. He finished the year with 50 catches for 794 yards and 15.9 yards per catch. Of those 50 catches, 37 went for first downs. Alabama expects to compete for national titles every year. If the QB situation works out, this offense will be near impossible to stop if Williams and Bernard bring it every week. Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell Just like LSU, Texas A&M also has a ton to replace at the defensive end position. But the Aggies are in a good spot with plenty of talent in-house. It starts with Cashius Howell, who's on the verge of a breakout year. Howell began his career at Bowlong Green, but looks the part of an SEC defensive lineman. He's explosive at the point of attack, which allows him to shed blocks, even against bigger offensive linemen. Howell has a deep bag of pass rush moves, and his PFF pass rush grade was one of the best in the SEC last year. Now with a full-time role, Howell should put up big numbers. A&M is expected to be strong on the backend, and if Howell performs, the Aggies' defense will be one of the best in the country. Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop One of the biggest holes any team has to replace this year is Tennessee's loss of Dylan Sampson at running back. Sampson was one of the most productive players in Tennessee history, carrying the ball 258 times and rushing for 22 TDs in 2024. Tennessee has a few options and could go with running back by committee, but if one guy has a chance of emerging as the feature back, it's DeSean Bishop. Bishop ran the ball 74 times and averaged 6.1 yards per carry last fall. He's shown flashes and averaged 3.96 yards after contact. With Tennessee's questions at the QB position, it needs a strong ground game if it hopes to make another playoff push. That makes Bishop pivotal to Tennessee's success in 2025. Florida cornerback Devin Moore Florida cornerback Devin Moore was beginning to emerge in 2024 before a shoulder injury cut his season short. In his final two games, vs. Kentucky and Georgia, Moore was targeted just four times and didn't allow a single catch. Moore is healthy now and looking to put together a breakout campaign. Florida has a chance to take the next step after a strong finish to 2024. The Gators' offense returns phenom quarterback DJ Lagwa, and the defensive line has a handful of future NFL players. An All-SEC cornerback on the backend could be the missing ingredient. Ole Miss wide receiver Cayden Lee Ole Miss is losing four of its top five wide receivers from its elite offense in 2024. The lone returner is Cayden Lee. Lee posted some big games last fall, which included a nine-catch, 132-yard performance vs. LSU in Death Valley. He finished the year with 57 catches for 874 yards, averaging 15.3 yards per catch and 2.08 yards per route run. Lee plays in the slot and is on the smaller side. He's not a guy who will make contested catches on the outside, but he has the speed to take the top off a defense and can make things happen with the ball in his hand. This unit will have a new look this fall, but if Lee can deliver big games, the drop-off won't be as steep. LSU left tackle Tyree Adams We'll finish the list with one more LSU player. Tyree Adams has big shoes to fill at left tackle with three-year starter Will Campbell off to the NFL. Campbell was a consensus All-American and a top-five NFL Draft pick. LSU's biggest question mark on offense is the offensive line. LSU arguably has the best QB in the SEC with Garrett Nussmeier, and the receiver core is among the best in the country. The line, which lacks the experience of last year's squad, could be the one thing standing between LSU and a playoff berth. But if young players like Adams can figure it out quickly, LSU will be firmly in the hunt for a national title. Adams entered spring ball in a competition for the left tackle job, but took control quickly. That should leave LSU fans feeling confident in the talented tackle entering 2025.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Here's every five star prospect committed to LSU football in class of 2026
LSU football's 2026 recruiting class is on track to be the best of the Brian Kelly era at LSU. It combines home-grown talent and top prospects from around the region. The class is headlined by four players who are considered five-star recruits by at least one of the major recruiting services. Wide receiver Tristen Keys and defensive lineman Lamar Brown are both consensus five-stars. Richard Anderson and Trenton Henderson round out the elite bunch. Brown is the most recent pledge, announcing his decision from University Lab's gym, then shutting down his recruitment with a post on social media. Henderson made his announcement on June 2. Keys is yet to waver from his decision in March and while Anderson has been committed for over a year. LSU's 2026 class ranks sixth nationally and fourth in the SEC. The cycle won't end until all recruits put pen to paper ahead of enrolling in January 2026, but Tiger fans should feel great about these four recruits as well as the rest of the class. Over half of the class hails from Louisiana, meaning they'll be less likely to change their decisions. Wide receiver Tristen Keys Keys was one of the first verbal commitments for LSU's 2026 class. 247Sports and Rivals rank him as the top player out of Mississippi and at wide receiver. Both sites rank Keys as a top-five overall prospect. Despite keeping his options open and taking official visits to Miami and Texas A&M over the summer, Keys appears firm in his pledge to LSU. At six-foot-two and 185 pounds, Keys caught 58 passes for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior. Scouts note his ability to gain significant yardage after contact and his ball-tracking ability in the air. Defensive lineman Richard Anderson A New Orleans native, Anderson made the decision last June to stay in his home state. After his senior year at Edna Karr, the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder will join a retooled defense upon enrolling in Jan. 2026. His frame gives him a great chance to make an immediate impact. On3's Industry Rankings are the highest on Anderson, slotting him as Louisiana's No. 2 prospect and the best defensive lineman in the cycle. The outlet puts him at No. 26 overall. Defensive end Trenton Henderson 247Sports is the highest on Henderson, giving him a five-star designation and slotting him at No. 4 among edge rushers in the cycle. He is also the No. 5 player out of Florida. Henderson plays linebacker in high school, but his six-foot-four frame and ability to get after quarterbacks on the edge make him a defensive end in college. Henderson chose LSU in a July 2 announcement. The Pensacola, FL native was the first of two edges to commit to the Tigers over the last week, as fellow Florida native DeAnthony Lafayette followed him. Defensive lineman Lamar Brown The crown jewel of LSU's 2026 recruiting class, Brown is Louisiana's top prospect across all recruiting outlets and ranks in the national top five. Kelly's staff couldn't let him escape from their backyard. Now he's locked into representing his home city. Brown is currently listed as an athlete, but he intends to focus on the defensive line in college. He'll likely finish as the top-ranked defensive tackle in the class and one of the top-ranked prospects in Louisiana high school history.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Former LSU star Paul Skenes named starting pitcher for National League in All-Star game
The National League named former LSU baseball star Paul Skenes its starting pitcher for the 2025 All-Star Game. It is Skenes' second time earning the distinction. The Pittsburgh Pirates' right-hander started last year's All-Star game ahead of winning the National League's Rookie of the Year award. Skenes is currently the betting favorite for the National League's Cy Young award, given to the best pitcher. In his second year of professional baseball, the ex-LSU hurler is putting together a standout season. Skenes' 2.01 ERA leads the National League. He has 131 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP through 121 innings pitched, all of which are top five in the National League. Through 20 starts in 2025, Skenes has surrendered over three runs just twice. In his most recent outing, he eclipsed his 300th career strikeout. It took him just 43 starts to reach the milestone, making him the first Pirates pitcher and one of 17 MLB pitchers all-time to do so. Skenes takes the mound for the All-Star game in Atlanta, GA, on Tuesday at 7 PM CT.
