When LSU coach Brian Kelly was first put in charge of the Tiger football program, he had quite the rebuild on his hands. At the time, there was no denying it would be a multi-year process, and while they haven’t quite reached their ultimate goals, it’s hard not to feel good about the direction the program is moving in. Notably, recruits are beginning to take notice as well, as elite defensive lineman and top-ranked class of 2026 recruit Jahkeem Stewart recently shared some encouraging words about the purple and gold.
Elite class of 2026 recruit Jahkeem Stewart excited about the LSU football rebuild
With two full seasons under his belt and a total of 20 wins as a part of the LSU football program, it’s safe to say coach Brian Kelly was more than deserving of the Tiger head coaching job. Understandably so, there are still plenty of doubters, but with the way the purple and gold have not only developed, but recruited talent, the future is bright.
It’s not just fans who share this sentiment either. More and more, top-ranked recruits throughout the country are beginning to take notice, and in turn, LSU recruiting has taken a major leap forward over the last year or so.
Additionally, the extra attention is coming from more than the current cycle. Earlier this week, elite defensive lineman and No. 1 overall class of 2026 recruit Jahkeem Stewart spoke with On3 and had some glowing things to say about the future for the purple and gold.
“I love LSU and what they’ve done as a program,” the New Orleans, LA, product told Chad Simmons of On3. “They’re rebuilding and I love that.”
Since LSU last won the national championship in 2019, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of a journey for the program. As it turned out, losing their star quarterback and over half the starting lineup to the NFL would end up hurting a bit more than many anticipated. The purple and gold would win just 11 total games in the next two seasons under at the time head coach Ed Orgeron.
From there, it was Brian Kelly’s time to shine. While it wasn’t necessarily pretty, it’s hard to imagine a better way to start than earning back-to-back double-digit win seasons. Furthermore, with the momentum LSU has on the recruiting trail, there’s no reason why the coaching staff can’t keep things moving in the right direction.
Recruiting the five-star defensive lineman
The Tigers have already gotten off to a hot start in the class of 2025, bringing in nine commitments of a four-star rating or higher. Now, coach Kelly is likely hoping to carry that momentum forward into the 2026 cycle.
While they haven’t won any recruiting battles yet, making an impression on the top-ranked recruit nationally isn’t a bad way to begin.
Following a recent rankings update, Louisiana-based five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart is far and away one of the best players in the country. On3 has the 6-foot-6, 280-pound defender ranked as not only the No. 1 defensive lineman, but also the No. 1 class of 2026 recruit overall.
As a sophomore in 2023, the St. Augustine High School standout put together one of the more impressive seasons in the country, totaling 83 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and a whopping 20 sacks.
Understandably, with his combination of size, athleticism and overall production, Stewart will likely have his pick of any school in the country as we look ahead to his junior season in 2024.
Among his current offers include Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and Texas. As things stand, Alabama is the current favorite to land the big-time defensive lineman – according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine – with the Crimson Tide having a 37.2 percent chance at gaining his commitment.
There’s plenty of time remaining until we eventually hear a final decision from the talented class of 2026 recruit. Nevertheless, with Stewart already giving some big-time praise to the Tiger program, things are certainly looking good for coach Brian Kelly and the purple and gold coaching staff as this recruitment continues on.
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