Yes, LSU is engaged in a major recruiting battle with Texas A&M, aiming to persuade a five-star recruit to flip from the Aggies to the Tigers before signing day.
After the conclusion of the early signing period in December, LSU found themselves with their top two targets still available.
Dominick McKinley and Terry Bussey remained uncommitted, presenting the Tigers with an opportunity to address key positions and enhance their 2024 recruiting class by potentially luring the five-star athletes away from their commitments to Texas A&M.
On New Year’s Eve, McKinley made the decision to flip, becoming the fourth recruit in this cycle to switch from Texas A&M to LSU. His commitment is set to be formalized on Wednesday morning. Now, the spotlight turns to Bussey in what has become the final major recruiting battle of the 2024 class, with the possibility of him following suit.
As national signing day approaches, the recruitment of Bussey has reached a critical juncture, with Texas A&M, LSU, and Georgia vying for the commitment of the highly coveted prospect. Hailing from Timpson, Texas, Bussey is a five-star recruit and is ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. His decision will be revealed at 9 a.m.
As national signing day approaches, Bussey remains committed to Texas A&M, having taken his final official visit to the university after visits to Georgia and LSU. While Bussey has kept his decision under wraps, many speculate that the contest for his commitment primarily involves LSU and Texas A&M.
Notably, Bussey stands as the highest-ranked unsigned player, with wide receiver Ryan Williams, who recently reaffirmed his commitment to Alabama, being the sole prospect ranked higher than him. Among the top 100 prospects in the 247Sports rankings, only four others are yet to sign: Williams, McKinley, wide receiver Gatlin Bair (Oregon), and edge rusher Noah Carter (Alabama). However, these individuals have already made their respective decisions.
LSU had a unique opportunity to bolster their 2024 recruiting class significantly in the past month. While the Tigers had already secured commitments from their initial signees in December, they still had unfinished business with McKinley and Bussey.
Both McKinley and Bussey had pledged their commitment to Texas A&M back in September. At that time, they showed no inclination of wavering, but the dismissal of coach Jimbo Fisher towards the end of a disappointing 7-6 season for the Aggies prompted a change of plans. With the program undergoing coaching transitions, McKinley and Bussey opted to reassess their options before finalizing their decisions.
In today’s recruiting landscape, it’s uncommon for prospects to delay their signings until February. Now, LSU finds itself in a position to potentially secure the signings of two top-15 overall prospects on Wednesday. Following McKinley’s commitment, LSU’s ranking climbed to No. 7 after initially closing the early signing period at No. 11. Should Bussey also choose LSU, the Tigers could soar into the top 5, solidifying their recruiting class.
McKinley’s decision to commit to LSU just nine days after the early signing period came as a surprise, especially since the Tigers had not yet made changes to their defensive coaching staff. However, McKinley has remained steadfast in his commitment since then, even hosting LSU coaches for an in-home visit and taking an official visit to the university.
His addition to the recruiting class marked a significant victory for LSU, particularly given his status as the top player in Louisiana and the nation’s No. 14 overall recruit according to the 247Sports composite rankings. With McKinley’s commitment, LSU has secured 12 of the top 14 players in the state for this recruiting cycle, addressing key positions of need, notably defensive tackle, which has been thin on the LSU roster.
Bussey, another highly sought-after recruit, would further bolster LSU’s recruiting class, particularly in the secondary, where there is a need for improvement. Despite being committed to Texas A&M and hailing from the state of Texas, LSU has been actively pursuing Bussey over the past month, following McKinley’s commitment.
While Bussey may ultimately choose to stick with his commitment to Texas A&M, LSU remains optimistic about their chances to sway him on national signing day. If successful, it would mark a significant victory for LSU in securing the last major recruiting battle of the cycle.
