LSU football recruiting adds elite Indiana-based edge rusher for their defensive front

LSU football recruiting has now landed its second commitment of the day, as class of 2025 edge rusher Damien Shanklin made his decision just hours following defensive lineman Brandon Brown’s announcement earlier this afternoon.

LSU football recruiting lands their second defensive commitment of the day

As it would turn out, maybe good things do take time. After a fairly slow start to the class of 2025 recruiting cycle as far as the defensive side of the ball goes, things have turned around for the purple and gold in quite a hurry.

On June 22, 2024, LSU football recruiting landed a commitment from talented edge rusher La Jesse Harrold, and in many ways it felt like a turning of the key for defensive coordinator Blake Baker and his entire coaching staff.

Now, right around two full weeks later, that feeling may have been exactly correct. In the last two days alone, coach Brian Kelly has received pledges from three more blue chip players along the defensive front, with Indiana-based edge rusher Damien Shanklin becoming the latest.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Damien Shanklin has Committed to LSU, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’4 252 EDGE from Indianapolis, IN chose the Tigers over Ohio State & Alabama

“I’M HOME DEATH VALLEY!”https://t.co/z0JEZAOiSv pic.twitter.com/zTRK6qeSRj

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 5, 2024

Officially listed as a 6-foot-5, 235-pound edge rusher out of Indianapolis, IN, Shanklin currently rates as a four-star recruit and the No. 48 player nationally, according to 247Sports.

Having recorded an impressive 97 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception and a forced fumble, the Warren Central High School standout possesses elite physical tools and has the kind of athleticism to use them correctly. At his best, he has the potential to be a multi-year starter as a part of the purple and gold.

Ultimately, the big-time defender chose LSU football recruiting over fellow nationally recognized brands such as Alabama and Ohio State, but he notably also held offers from over 25 total schools, including that of Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas and USC.

With Shanklin’s pledge to the Tiger football program, Brian Kelly’s class of 2025 now ranks No. 4 nationally, as well as No. 2 among SEC opponents with 15 total commitments.

All of that said, the most impressive part about their efforts might be the fact that they not only have six total defensive commitments, but they’ve also built up a complete defensive line with two edge rushers – four-stars La Jesse Harrold and Damien Shanklin – and two defensive tackles – four-stars Zion Williams and Brandon Brown. Barring any decommitments down the line, look for the group to make an early impact as the defensive rebuild in Baton Rouge, LA, continues into the 2025 college football season.

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