LSU Country

The Latest on Five-Star DL Jahkeem Stewart's Recruitment, Signing Day Approaching

The No. 3 rated defensive lineman in America will check in with LSU, unofficially visit campus.

Zack Nagy

Courtesy of Jahkeem Stewart's Instagram.
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New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart made his way to Baton Rouge in early November to take in the scenes of Death Valley for an official visit.

Stewart, the No. 3 rated defensive lineman in America, is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle.

Now, after reclassifying from the 2026 class into 2025, all eyes are on the Louisiana phenom nicknamed "Thanos" ahead of a December decision.

Stewart's finalists are LSU, USC and Oregon with the five-star taking official visits to all three before he puts pen to paper with one during the Early Signing Period in one week.

It's been an interesting recruitment to follow. Stewart has received the red carpet treatment from Oregon, LSU and USC thus far, but isn't done checking in with programs prior to a Dec. 4 decision.

He traveled to Eugene during the weekend of Oct. 12 for an official with Dan Lanning and Co. before hitting the road to Baton Rouge on Nov. 9 for a visit with LSU.

Then came the heavy-hitting USC Trojans on Nov. 16.

Lincoln Riley and the Trojans staff answered all the questions Stewart's camp had last weekend where he felt at home in Southern Cal.

The predictions began flowing in with the USC Trojans becoming the expected decision. On3 Sports and 247Sports analysts flooded the prediction machine with USC being the pick.

Then, heading into the final weekend before the Early Signing Period, 247 Sports' LSU affiliate, "Geaux247" first reported that Stewart would be back in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

As it currently stands, Stewart does not appear to be attending LSU's regular season finale against the Oklahoma Sooners.

But LSU will have a five-star in Baton Rouge on Saturday night: DJ Pickett.

DJ Pickett Checks in for Multi-Day Visit:

Zephyrhills (Fla.) five-star cornerback DJ Pickett announced a commitment to the LSU Tigers in July after a rigorous recruiting battle between a number of the top programs in the country.

Pickett, the top-ranked defensive back in America, chose the Tigers over the likes of Miami, Oregon and Georgia.

Now, with the Early Signing Period inching closer, Pickett's finalists remain in his ear down the stretch, but LSU's confidence hasn't wavered.

“It’s about my son being happy, my son being comfortable and my son getting on the field earlier and we feel that spot is LSU,” Pickett's father Damien told On3 Sports' Steve Wiltfong.

Following the news of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping his commitment to the Michigan Wolverines, programs knew LSU was in a vulnerable place.

Now, Pickett will be back in Baton Rouge for the LSU versus Oklahoma matchup this weekend for the Tigers' regular season finale, sources tell LSU Tigers On SI. He arrived on Friday morning.

LSU will look to hold on down the stretch for Pickett, but he's staying strong to his commitment to this point.

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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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