Brian Kelly and the LSU football staff reeled in a commitment from the No. 1 cornerback in America on Wednesday night after DJ Pickett went public with his decision.
Pickett hopped on Instagram Live to reveal his pledge with LSU coming out on top over Oregon and Miami to land his services.
After an eventful seven-month stretch with cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond keeping his foot on the gas for the Sunshine State native, the Tigers received a verbal commitment from from the prized defensive back.
It's a monumental addition for Raymond and Co. after battling down the stretch against two of the top programs when it comes to the NIL space.
We've seen Oregon head coach Dan Lanning turn into one of the most aggressive coaches in college football on the name, image and likeness front.
With Pickett on his radar, the Ducks tossed around impressive packages for the No. 1 cornerback in the 2025 class, but LSU remained within arms reach.
Now, after going public with a decision, LSU has earned Pickett's commitment and must keep the flame burning until National Signing Day in December.
How did Kelly and the Tigers pull off the monumental commitment?
A Behind The Scenes Look:
The Deciding Factor: Corey Raymond
Pickett was loud and clear about what led him to Baton Rouge. The five-star circled LSU cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond as the key piece in why he ultimately selected the Tigers over both the Ducks and Hurricanes with the architect of "DBU" doing it again on the recruiting trail.
“I wish [Oregon and Miami] the best, but I’m at LSU now,” Pickett said after announcing his decision on Wednesday. “If you are a DB, and Coach Raymond is at LSU, I feel that’s the right place to be at. That tells you everything right there.”
It was simple. Once Raymond was hired by Kelly and placed back on the LSU staff, Pickett's attention shifted to Baton Rouge.
He believed in the vision Raymond had in place for him whether it was at Florida or LSU.
Raymond and the Florida Gators parted ways following the 2023 season prior to LSU bringing him back to The Boot in January of 2024.
Once he was back on staff, Raymond put the full-court press on Pickett, a decision that paid dividends in the long run.
"Just the Corey Raymond factor. And it’s Defensive Back U. DBU. That’s a big factor for LSU.," Pickett's father told On3Sports. "The fact they have developed so many DBs. Coach Raymond developed so many DBs at the school. The recruiting is in the pudding. There are so many greats that played at LSU. I’d say history as far as LSU.”
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) July 17, 2024BREAKING: #LSU has landed a commitment from the No. 1 CB in America: DJ Pickett.
The Florida native is Baton Rouge bound after pledging to the Bayou Bengals over Oregon and Miami.
Corey Raymond lands his big fish in the 2025 cycle.
Pickett is headed to “The Boot”. pic.twitter.com/Ayj7jg1BEw
The Pitch: Help Bring Back "DBU"
It's no secret Raymond has recruited at a high-level during his career. From signing Derek Stingley to other Tiger legends, the proof is in the product. He's a recruiting guru and has proven that time and time again.
When it came to Pickett, he didn't skip a beat. It was about restoring the "DBU" title and it starts with getting a coveted recruit like Pickett to Death Valley.
“I feel like they just need the right guys to come in there and change it around,” Pickett said via On3Sports. “It only takes one year, then it starts rolling from there.”
Now, Pickett is a player who can give the Tigers a jumpstart in the defensive backfield for the long haul where he'll likely be thrust into the mix as a freshman in 2025.
The Connection: LSU Great Patrick Peterson
Raymond went deep into his bag of tricks during the recruitment of Pickett. He knew it wouldn't be easy to secure his services, so he pulled out the X-factor: Patrick Peterson.
During Pickett's official visit to LSU in early June, Peterson flew down to Louisiana to help lead the recruiting push where he walked side-by-side with Pickett through the Football Operations Building along the way.
Peterson, a Sunshine State native like Pickett, took his talents to Louisiana as a coveted prospect with the Tigers now utilizing the resource in his recruitment. A source confirmed to LSU Country that Peterson and Pickett have kept in contact and it became a key piece in LSU's push.
LSU pitched early playing time, versatility in the defensive backfield and more when it came to on the field offers, but the NIL factor was certainly a pivotal piece in this one.
With heavy-hitters like Oregon and Miami in the mix, LSU had to pull out all the stops in order to remain an option.
After LSU rolled out the red carpet, kept pace with the top programs in the NIL space and utilized its resources, it propelled the Tigers to land a verbal commitment from the nation's top-ranked cornerback.
It'll be a battle until the buzzer for LSU when it comes to securing his signature in December, but the Tigers have proven they've arrived in the new-age recruiting after adding Pickett to the 2025 class.
LSU now has three five-star, top-ranked players at their positions with Pickett joining Bryce Underwood (No. 1 QB) and Harlem Berry (No. 1 RB).
The Tigers currently boast the No. 3 Recruiting Class in the 2025 cycle with the program in premier position to reach No. 1 status before it's all said and done.
LSU Football Lands Commitment From Five-Star Cornerback DJ Pickett, America's No. 1 CB
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