ICYMI: Class of 2026 4-star DL JaReylan McCoy reveals commitment to LSU football

The LSU football recruiting class of 2026 just received a major boost, as four-star defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy announced his pledge to the purple and gold on January 2, at the 2025 Under Armour All-American Game.

Blue chip defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy announces commitment to LSU football recruiting class of 2026

The LSU football 2025 recruiting cycle is all but finalized, and the Tiger coaching staff has quickly shifted their attention to the class of 2026. In turn, we’re starting to get an idea of where Brian Kelly has as priorities, and if the early stages are any indication at all, he has his eyes set on size, as well as the defensive side of the ball from top to bottom.

Entering the 2025 calendar year possessing commitments from three defenders, along with inside offensive lineman Jalan Chapman, it’s clear that their plan was already working, and now, it seems as though they were only getting started.

The purple and gold most recently landed a commitment from JaReylan McCoy, a four-star defensive lineman out of Tupelo, MS.

@JaReylanMcCoy just committed to @LSU @LSUfootball #uanext pic.twitter.com/LQaKkvsGo9

— All-America Game (@UANextFootball) January 3, 2025

Currently resting as the lone non-Louisiana product in this LSU class of 2026, McCoy has quickly found himself among the very top of the group, ranking as the No. 103 player nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite, as well as No. 6 overall in Mississippi.

Standing at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, the Tupelo High School standout is by far the tallest commitment Brian Kelly currently holds. Add in the fact that he has experience in both basketball and the shot put, it feels like he’s only just beginning to scratch the surface of his athletic potential.

A bit of a developmental player as far as technique goes, McCoy still managed to log a 2024 stat line of 30 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks as a largely rotational piece for his Mississippi 6A Championship winning high school team.

With some more time in a weight room, to go along with some college-level competition, JaReylan McCoy has the potential to be a star at the edge rusher position. If anything, it’s just a matter of patience and putting the right amount of work in.

The four-star defensive lineman chose LSU football over several of the top programs in college football, including Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M and USC. The Tiger class of 2026 now sits as the No. 5 group nationally, according to 247Sports, as well as No. 2 in the SEC, with six total commitments.

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