Prep

LSU’s recruiting heater returned in-state Wednesday as Franklin Parish star Trey Martin committed to the home-state program over Florida, Ole Miss and a long list of others.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back, a well-rounded weapon at the position, marks the Tigers’ fourth addition to their 2027 pledge class in the past three days and eighth in the past week and a half.

Martin joins fellow running backs Brennen Lacey (Frisco, Texas) last week and Tre Segarra (Duncan, S.C.) on Tuesday in that group as new coach Lane Kiffin, running backs coach Kevin Smith and company work to restock the position room for the future.

LSU leaned exclusively on the transfer portal this winter to fill out the depth chart around returning stars Caden Durham and Harlem Berry.

Martin is the No. 9 overall prospect in Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s latest class rankings, climbing a handful of spots after an all-state junior campaign with 1,310 yards and 26 touchdowns on 115 carries and another 277 yards and five scores on 17 catches.

He has also been a standout safety for his Patriots where his instincts, ball skills and physicality have helped him excel as well.

His long offer list included Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee and dozens more in addition to the trio that rose to the top down the stretch.

But he ultimately opted for the home-state program where he is now poised to be LSU’s second signing from Franklin Parish in as many years after star quarterback Dezyrian “Pook” Ellis, a cornerback prospect, became the first-ever in 2026.

Ellis became the Tigers’ first signee from the area since former Winnsboro High defensive tackle Anthony “Booger” McFarland in 1995 before the parish consolidated its schools in 2005.

LSU’s 2027 commitment class

1. QB Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian — Louisiana vs. All Y’all No. 3 overall, No. 1 QB
2. WR Ah’Mari Stevens, Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
3. ATH/WR Braylon Calais, Cecilia — Louisiana vs. All Y’all No. 7 overall, No. 1 ATH
4. TE Ahmad Hudson, Ruston — Louisiana vs. All Y’all No. 5 overall, No. 1 TE
5. EDGE K.J. Green, Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Ga.)
6. RB Brennen Lacey, Frisco (Frisco, Texas)
7. DB/ATH Markez Davis, Northwest — Louisiana vs. All Y’all No. 23 overall, No. 1 CB
8. WR Cade Cooper, Malvern Prep (Garnett Valley, Pa.)
9. OL Amaziah Siale, Mission Viejo (Kapaa, Hawaii)
10. OL Terrance Smith, Lansdale Catholic (Lansdale, Pa.)
11. RB Tre Segarra, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
12. RB Trey Martin, Franklin Parish — Louisiana vs. All Y’all No. 9 overall, No. 1 RB

Seth Collins made two trips to Baton Rouge this week and made himself impossible to ignore in the process.

The 2028 Evangel Christian defensive back locked down wide receivers and snatched at least a handful of interceptions between 7-on-7 action Saturday and a recruiting camp Thursday, which he left with an offer from home-state LSU.

“The offer truly means a lot to me,” he said. “To be a kid from Louisiana, to have the opportunity to be a Tiger is one of the biggest things a Louisiana kid could get — not to mention LSU being a defensive back factory. It truly is a blessing from God. I give him all the glory. And this is just the beginning. I have to go 10 times harder now to stay on top, and I plan on doing it.”

Of the process of seeing his work and production translate so clearly to the offer, he added: “God made the way, I followed it, now I’m here and it feels truly amazing.”

The 6-foot-1, 181-pound ballhawk’s recruitment took off this April with his first three offers from SMU, Louisiana Tech and Houston following a breakout sophomore campaign.

He was a top performer in a small, six-team 7-on-7 tournament with at least three interceptions, including the final takeaway in the end zone to seal his Eagles’ undefeated afternoon, and then again Thursday with his instincts and ball skills once again on display.

LSU secondary coach Corey Raymond extended the offer following the camp, opening the opportunity for Collins to potentially follow the footsteps of some of his recent favorite defensive backs such as Mansoor Delane, Derek Stingley Jr. and Tyrann Mathieu.

“Being a Louisiana kid, seeing the grit and the dirt I have shows a lot of resemblance to former LSU DBs,” Collins said. “We didn’t talk much yet about how I fit in, but he truly sees that Louisiana dog in me.”

Collins was one of four 2028 Louisiana prospects to report LSU offers Thursday.

He, Abbeville wide receiver Jacolby Campbell and Archbishop Shaw wide receiver Nasir Parker and St. Augustine offensive tackle Jayden Taylor bring the total of in-state offers in the class to 14.

LSU’s 2028 in-state offers

1. Calvin Ursin Jr., Dunham WR/DB (April 8, 2025(
2. Caiden Bellard, Lafayette Christian RB (Feb. 13, 2026)
3. Shamar Evans, Ruston LB (March 5, 2026)
4. Cayden Lancelin, Westgate WR (March 22, 2026)
5. Chance Archangel, Westgate EDGE (March 22, 2026)
6. Kameron Grisby, University Lab DB (May 2, 2026)
7. Dalen Powell, Ruston RB (May 8, 2026)
8. Noble Williams, Alexandria RB (June 5, 2026)
9. Ryan Rodgers, Calvary Baptist OL (June 6, 2026)
10. Andrew Shofstahl, St. Paul’s OL (June 9, 2026)
11. Seth Collins, Evangel Christian DB (June 11, 2026)
12. Jacolby Campbell, Abbeville WR (June 11, 2026)
13. Nasir Parker, Archbishop Shaw WR (June 11, 2026)
14. Jayden Taylor, St. Augustine OL (June 11, 2026)

A young Mason Smith, already a big LSU fan as a child, tagged along for a game-day visit to the home-state university early in Peyton “Pop” Houston‘s recruiting process.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels found tight end Mason Taylor for a two-point conversion, a walk-off upset of Alabama in overtime and a memory two north Louisiana kids — like much of the state — will likely never forget.

Fast-forward more than three and a half years.

And Houston is the Tigers’ 2027 quarterback commit heading into his senior season this fall at Evangel Christian, and now Smith is a 2030 target with a newly received offer before his upcoming freshman year at North DeSoto.

“It feels amazing,” Smith said after receiving an LSU offer Thursday following a strong performance at the program’s latest recruiting camp. “Being from Louisiana, it’s kind of like a dream come true. As a kid, you kind of dream about that. You always grow up watching, and I was kind of raised around LSU with my family so it’s like built in me to be around LSU.

“It really started when I was just a kid. I always had kind of an obsession with LSU. My uncle, he kinda blew me up with LSU, and I really went with it, but I also understood it. And then having a connection with Pop and his dad, they brought me on a visit when I was 8 or 9 or something like that. And it just always felt like a really good place to be.”

Ole Miss offered Smith last summer when coach Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens were still in Oxford, Miss.

And largely the same offensive staff made the same move Thursday after the young passer finished zipping darts to receivers all over the field.

“I feel like for any kid it would be a surprise (to receive offers so early), but I feel like I work for it and I know that I’ve earned it, and I’m not gonna get complacent either,” Smith said. “I’m always gonna stay humble. I always feel like there’s more work to do. But I also know that I’ve worked for this and I’ve worked to be in this position since I was 6 years old, being out there throwing a football with my dad when I was just a kid and working little simple drills to build up to huge, game-like dynamic drills.

“I always felt like I was built for it. I didn’t think that it would come this soon, but I knew that I would be something for sure.”

Smith’s confidence, poise, arm strength and accuracy were all on display Thursday.

He referenced his comfort reading coverages as a strong suit of his game, an aspect that similarly set Houston apart from his peers at the same timeline in his development.

The 6-foot, 154-pound athlete said priorities this offseason include continuing to hammer on his technique, as well as working to get stronger to prepare for varsity football right out the gate as a freshman.

“As far as work prioritizing right now, just keep working on my pocket presence and my footwork,” he said. “I feel like I can definitely work on that a lot. And getting bigger as well. I’ve gained 10 pounds since the start of spring. I’m trying to be as big as I can right now because I’ve gotta get ready for varsity football because I’m starting, so I’ll have to be ready for that.”

Smith’s mindset echoes Houston’s consistent “Job’s Not Finished” mantra echoing former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

The attitude, confidence and relentless work ethic are attributes he said he’s learned as much as any from Houston.

“Him and coach Houston, ever since I’ve trained with them, their advice and mentality that they were trying their best to build into me was just when you get out on the field, it’s really a mindset of you have to go kill whatever’s in front of you. Even if they’re bigger than you. I was playing 10U when I was just 8. I’ve always played against bigger kids since I was a child, so it’s always like it doesn’t matter who you’re on the field with. You’ve just got to go in thinking that they can’t do nothin’ with you. You have to have a dog mentality. Especially in Louisiana, you have to have that mentality.”