LSU Country

LSU Football Lands Commitment From Five-Star Cornerback DJ Pickett, No. 1 CB in America

Corey Raymond secures a pledge from DJ Pickett, the top corner in the 2025 class, over Oregon and Miami.

Zack Nagy

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Corey Raymond secures a pledge from DJ Pickett, the top corner in the 2025 class, over Oregon and Miami.

Brian Kelly and the LSU staff have landed a commitment from the No. 1 cornerback in America with DJ Pickett revealing his pledge to the Bayou Bengals on Wednesday.

Pickett, the top-ranked defensive back in the 2025 cycle, gives secondary coach Corey Raymond his first big-time commitment since his return to Baton Rouge in January.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder adds a different element to the defensive backfield in Death Valley where he will join a Top 5 recruiting class in the 2025 cycle.

Headlined by Bryce Underwood, Pickett is now the third five-star in the 2025 class alongside both Underwood (No. 1 QB) and Harlem Berry (No. 1 RB).

The verbal commitment from the Sunshine State native propels LSU's 2025 class to No. 3 in America with the Tigers in contention for the No. 1 spot.

A player who is a Swiss Army Knife in the defensive backfield, Pickett can play in the safety slot or at cornerback.

For Raymond, Pickett is his prototypical recruit. A long, lanky corner with the ability to go sideline-to-sideline in the blink of an eye, it's a match made in heaven.

“The deciding factor was him being happy,” Pickett’s father Damien said. “Where he’s happy on and off the field. Where he can grow as a young man. It was mostly football based but also where he feels he can excel in the classroom and do the things in the classroom.”

Now, he's Baton Rouge bound with LSU winning out for his services over both Miami and Oregon in a rollercoaster recruitment process.

A deep dive into the 2025 class with Pickett in the mix:

Bryce Underwood: No. 1 Quarterback in America

Height: 6'4
Weight: 215 pounds

The Rundown, per On3 Sports: "Bryce Underwood made an immediate impact on the varsity level as a freshman at Belleville (Michigan) High School. Underwood threw for 2,888 yards and 39 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also added six rushing scores in his freshman season to lead Belleville to a state championship. Underwood was named the Michigan Associated Press Division 1-2 Player of the Year after the stellar first season. He then led Belleville to a perfect 14-0 record and another state title in 2022. Underwood threw for 2,762 yards and 37 touchdowns as a sophomore. To make things even more impressive, Underwood could technically be a 2026 prospect, but he’s completing school early as part of the 2025 class."

Harlem Berry: No. 1 Running Back in America

Height: 5'10
Weight: 182 pounds

The Rundown, per On3 Sports: "St Martin's Episcopal School coach Marcus Dizer isn't shy about heaping on the praise for Harlem Berry. 'In all my years, I have never coached or seen a better player than Harlem,' Dizer said. Through his first two seasons of varsity football, Berry had 4,723 all-purpose yards and 67 touchdowns. He also won the Louisiana 1A state titles in the 100 (10.57) and 200-meters (21.43) during his sophomore year. As a sophomore, Berry rushed 193 times for 2,237 yards (11.6 yards per carry) and 37 touchdowns. During his junior season, he was named the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club player of the month in September after rushing for 805 yards and 16 scores – in just four games. 'He's brilliant,' Dizer said. 'We do not win games without him.'"

Carius Curne: No. 1 Interior Offensive Lineman in America

Height: 6'4
Weight: 320 pounds

The Rundown: Curne is a late bloomer on the gridiron after starting his playing career just three years ago in the ninth grade. Fast forward to the end of his junior campaign and he's blossomed into the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the country with the chance to play defensive line if need be. Curne, the No. 1 player in Arkansas, is a game changer that will elevate the LSU offensive line for years to come.

Charles Ross: No. 10 Linebacker in America

Height: 6'0
Weight: 200 pounds

The Rundown: Ross is a fast-rising prospect in the 2025 cycle with an opportunity to continue elevating his status for the long haul. He's launched from a player outside of the Top 300 to a Top 100 recruit due to his sheer speed and athleticism at the second level. The speedster is a dominant athlete on the track and it carries over to his game on the field.

Tyler Miller: Top 10 Interior Offensive Lineman

Height: 6'5
Weight: 315 pounds

The Rundown: Laurel High coach Ryan Earnest isn't afraid to brag about Tyler Miller. “His size, his strength and he’s just freakishly athletic," Earnest told the Hattiesburg American about Miller, who led Laurel to the Mississippi 5A title game in 2023. "He presents some problems for people on the other side of the ball. And we're never afraid to say that we're just going to run behind him and let him pave the way. That's how talented he is."

Devin Harper: Top 10 Interior Offensive Lineman in America

Height: 6'4
Weight: 300 pounds

The Rundown: "Physical, tone-setting offensive lineman who could potentially play inside or outside. Possesses requisite physical tools to fit either role, including an arm measurement of 34+ inches. Convicted down blocker and block finisher. Displays necessary lateral mobility and above average foot quickness. Hand placement consistency can improve, but when on target they can pack serious pop. Strength- and power-oriented blocker who's still honing technical craft, whether in footwork or bending consistency. Body control and balance improved from sophomore to junior year, which is encouraging considering added mass," according to Gabe Brooks of 247Sports.

Jesse Harrold: Four-Star EDGE

Height: 6'4
Weight: 230 pounds

The Rundown: "Has experience rushing out of both a two and three-point stance and could probably fit into an odd or even front at the next level. Isn’t the most technically advanced prospect at this stage, but creates pressure with his athleticism and energy. Displays the ability to not only redirect, but also bend while turning the corner. Frequently makes stops a few gaps over and has the range to get across the field and clean up mistakes," according to Andrew Irvins of 247Sports.

JT Lindsey: No. 2 Running Back in Louisiana

Height: 5'11
Weight: 185 pounds

The Rundown: "Big-play back who's carried a high-volume work load and likely possesses enough physical development ahead of him to do so at the next level. Strong track times support what we see on the field. Good initial acceleration accompanying home run top-end speed. Quick-footed in the hole. Flashes move-stringing ability at the first and second levels. Creative runner when necessary. Slippery tackle breaker who can spin away from trouble and suddenly cut to stack moves that free him to open territory," according to Gabe Brooks of 247Sports.

TaRon Francis: No. 1 Wide Receiver in Louisiana

Height: 6'1
Weight: 196 pounds

The Rundown: The No. 1 wide receiver in Louisiana has displayed tremendous athleticism and twitchiness with the ball in his hands that makes him a force routinely. Francis is slippery and isn't afraid of physical contact and has shown that during his time at Edna Karr. LSU will have the top-ranked receiver headed to Baton Rouge with a chance explode under Brian Kelly's offense.

Damien Shanklin: No. 5 EDGE in America

Height: 6'5
Weight: 230

The Rundown: The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder is rated as a Top 10 EDGE in America with the Tigers winning out for his services over Alabama and Ohio State. The quick, twitchy edge rusher has the chance to thrive with Bo Davis and Kevin Peoples coaching him up for the long haul. Look for Shanklin to be an instant impact guy in Baton Rouge sooner rather than later.

Brandon Brown: Four-Star Defensive Lineman

Height: 6'1
Weight: 290 pounds

The Rundown: Brown flipped his commitment from Texas to LSU after defensive line coach Bo Davis and Co. turned up the heat for the dominant interior lineman. He's taking strides in the right direction and has an opportunity to see his ranking rise before arriving in Baton Rouge.

Zion Williams: Four-Star Defensive Lineman

Height: 6'4
Weight: 330

The Rundown: A 6-foot-4, 300-pound menace up front, Davis and his recruiting team circled Williams as a major priority down the stretch with the Tigers coming out on top for his services. The four-star Texas native is viewed as a gem by the LSU staff with this program rolling out the red carpet during his official visit last month. Williams made his way to Baton Rouge in early June for a multi-day stay.

Keylan Moses: Four-Star Linebacker

Height: 6'1
Weight: 215 Pounds

JD LaFleur: No. 1 Tight End in Louisiana

Height: 6'6
Weight: 235 pounds

Brett Bordelon: Elite Offensive Lineman

Height: 6'4
Weight: 300 pounds

Other LSU News:

No. 1 Pitcher in America, LSU Signee William Schmidt Bypassing 2024 MLB Draft

LSU Baseball Lands First-Round Talent via NCAA Transfer Portal

LSU Football Trending for Pair of Prized Defensive Backs

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Zack Nagy

ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of LSU Country, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Tiger Football, Basketball, Baseball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving LSU athletics. 

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