No. 1 Player in Louisiana, Dominick McKinley, Includes LSU in Top Six

Tigers make the cut as McKinley locks in on making his college decision, will battle elite group of programs.

Brian Kelly’s mission is to lock down the state of Louisiana on the recruiting trail. On Wednesday, he took another step in the right direction with the No. 1 player in the state, Dominick McKinley, including LSU in his final six schools.

The five-star defensive lineman continues trimming his list ahead of his senior season with the Tigers being the early frontrunners. Along with the Tigers, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State and Texas A&M made the cut.

Kelly and Co. will have their work cut out for them in this one. The top prep player in Louisiana, the drastic growth McKinley has made over the last 14 months has been significant.

The 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive lineman has been a high-riser over the last few months from a rankings perspective as well. A Lafayette, La. native, he’s a player who is at the top of the Tigers’ 2024 board.

McKinley has been on LSU’s campus twice this year and will certainly make his way down to Baton Rouge this summer with the Tigers looking to continue solidifying their position in his recruitment.

A physical specimen with tremendous potential at the next level, the Tigers will continue keeping their foot on the gas for the five-star prospect.

BREAKING: Five-Star DL Dominick McKinley is down to 6️⃣ Schools!

The 6’6 270 DL from Lafayette, LA is ranked as a Top 15 Player in the ‘24 Class (No. 3 DL)

Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/zSRy6CI8R4 pic.twitter.com/6FXn4x3Xwt

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 1, 2023

Brian Kelly’s Recruiting Message:

“We’re going to identify the best prospects throughout the country and you’ll see that in this signing class. We’ll have players from the northeast, the midwest, the west coast. But our base will be Louisiana and the south,” Kelly said. “When you’re LSU and you have a brand that’s so recognizable, you can’t have blinders on either. Our scope and vision is national but it’s not like we’re pulling four guys out of every state. We’re gonna have a heavy influence in the state of Louisiana, like we should.”

“I think within a calendar year we could be looking to turn over 70 scholarships,” Kelly said. “I certainly don’t think it’s going to be in the mid to high 30s [as the norm]. I think that’s outside the lines. I do believe the high 20s is going to be the norm. I remember years where it was 18, I think those days are over.”

“You don’t want to jump every year into the transfer portal when it comes to the cornerback position. We did this year because there was such a need to put together a representative group. I think there’s gonna be a heavy influence on freshmen and that’s the way we want to build,” Kelly said. “Does that mean we won’t look at transfers? No, it doesn’t mean we’ll close the door on that, but last year they were one year and done. We’re not looking in that respect. Corners would have to have more than one season of competition left if we go that route.”