| The LSU Tigers are trying to stay in the big poker game that is big-time college recruiting, and the price of poker has definitely gone up. LSU coach Brian Kelly detailed a successful but expensive recruiting haul for the Tigers on Wednesday. Here's the gist of what he had to say as reported by our Wilson Alexander: ------------------------------ After LSU lost two of its highest-rated prospects in the 2025 class within two weeks of the early signing period, coach Brian Kelly compared modern recruiting to sitting at a poker table. There is a lot of money involved, Kelly suggested, and coaches have to decide how much to push to the middle of the table for every recruit. “Anybody that we've lost in the last few days, it wasn't because we didn't offer money, it wasn't because we didn't recruit them,” Kelly said. “It was because the value (for another team) was exponentially more. It wasn't market value. It was exponentially more because it meant they needed that piece. And they were gonna do whatever was necessary to get that piece.” After flipping five-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas from Florida State, LSU signed three top-25 overall players in the 247Sports composite rankings, the most in one year during Kelly’s tenure. LSU has the No. 8 class in the country after the first day of the early signing period, according to 247Sports. “I think overall, this is the finest class that I have signed,” Kelly said. LSU believed it added multiple players to build around, but this class also will be remembered for whom the team lost down the stretch, especially five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and four-star cornerback Kade Phillips. Four-star wide receiver Derek Meadows, three-star tight end Mike Tyler and four-star edge rusher LaJesse Harrold also went elsewhere after being committed to LSU. And five-star New Orleans defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart signed with Southern Cal. After Underwood flipped to Michigan two weeks ago, linebacker Keylan Moses said LSU recruits talked in their group chat. Moses, a four-star player from U-High, considered Texas A&M at the end but ultimately stuck with LSU. He said connections mattered more than money, adding he knew he would “get taken care of no matter what.” “We held ourselves together,” Moses said. “Everybody thought that was going to be our breaking point. Everybody thought we were going to lose all hope. But no. There were guys in there telling us to keep our composure and don’t listen to anybody offering anything. "We came here for a reason. We all committed here for a reason, so stick to that reason, stick to that plan and big things coming in 2025 and years on.” Kelly said this cycle was “unlike any recruiting period that I've ever been involved in.” Instead of academics, development or championship contention, he said money became the top factor. Kelly compared the last few days to tax day. “It's about the most money I can get, and that's unfortunate,” Kelly said. “But it's the world we live in, and you have to be able to adapt and you have to be able to realign and be prepared.” Money has been an increasingly visible factor since NIL went into effect in 2021. Underwood received a deal from Michigan’s donor collective reportedly worth more than $10 million over the course of the agreement. LSU offered him $1.5 million per year, sources said, which would have made him the highest-paid player on the team. “It's no longer just about relationships,” Kelly said. “You need a collective. You need the NIL to supplement your recruiting efforts, and that's just the reality of what we live in because you can't close every one of these just because you've got great relationships and they wanna go to LSU.” Kelly said some players get larger deals than the perceived market value because of team needs. If another school values them and has enough money to spend through the collective, it will come in with a higher offer in the final stretch before signing day. He indicated that’s what happened to LSU. “It has nothing to do with your value,” Kelly said. “It's just the other program doesn't have a tackle, and they desperately need you as their cornerstone, and so they're gonna spend more money. It's not your market value. It's what they need, and that's where this becomes really, really difficult.” As LSU continues to work on the roster going into Kelly’s fourth season, he said the team needs financial contributions. Athletic departments will be able to share revenue with players next summer once the House settlement passes, so he wants to have enough money ahead of time in LSU’s collective to retain key players through NIL deals. The future of collectives are unclear under revenue sharing. Having money will matter in the upcoming transfer portal window. Kelly has said LSU will be “very aggressive," but so will other teams. He estimated the Tigers will sign 12 transfers, though that number could change. When NIL started, Kelly said he had to tell donors that recruiting was heading in this direction. Though he understands why some remain reluctant to share their money that way, he said LSU needs donor support. “If you want to be in the big poker game,” Kelly said, “this is what the ante is.” ------------------------------ We have more details here on the day's big flip, as offensive lineman Solomon Thomas signed with LSU instead of Florida State. Also, here's a closer look at the Tigers' top signee, cornerback DJ Pickett. Yours truly checks in with a bunch of recruiting tidbits for you to enjoy over coffee or tea. Not all the recruits turned in LSU's favor of course. We had the coverage from New Orleans as defensive lineman Jhakeem Stewart took his pledge elsewhere. While the focus is on recruits, coaches are on the move, too. LSU special teams coach Slade Nagle is headed for a coordinator post at a nearby school. Clkick here to see where ... there. Bad news from the basketball court, as one of LSU's top men's players is out for the season with a torn ACL By the way, the No. 5 LSU women play host to Stanford at 8 p.m. Thursday night in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Speaking of women's basketball, former Tiger All-American Angel Reese says, rather modestly, that her net worth is a lot more than people think. Wish mine was. Thanks for reading and subscribing. If we were trying to recruit loyal readers, you would be at the top of the list. With a huge NIL deal, of course. Until next time, Scott Rabalais | 