The speculation surrounding his decision ends as Dezyrian Ellis commits to LSU. Getting an early start on the holiday fireworks, the coveted prospect decided to pledge his allegiance to the Tigers. The Franklin Parish High School athlete became the school’s first LSU commitment since its consolidation in 2005, as the school was known as Winnsboro High School when Super Bowl winner Anthony McFarland attended.
Ellis Commits to LSU
Relationships Matter
Although NIL tends to dominate the airwaves when discussing college football, relationships still matter in recruiting. Ellis previously told Last Word about his relationship with the Tigers’ Cornerback Coach Corey Raymond. Now, Raymond’s efforts have obviously paid off as they resulted in Ellis committing to LSU.
Ellis visited Tulane, which would have given him the chance to play with his former high school teammate, Javion White. Houston offered and contended intensely for his services, as well as his current teammate, Edge Chris Addison. West Virginia offered Ellis as a quarterback, which is his primary position in high school. In the end, his relationships with the LSU staff and the allure of playing in Death Valley was too much to pass up.
What is LSU Getting?
Ellis stars at the quarterback position for Franklin Parish. As a prospect, his speed, agility, and acceleration pop on tape. He displays high-level ball skills in reps at the receiver position. Considering his height, he gets to top speed quickly as a ball-carrier.
That same burst also flashed when breaking on routes while on the defensive side of the ball. While he dominated as an offensive star at Franklin Parish, he played on both sides of his elite 7v7 teams, Team Heru and Team Fleaux. Ellis had the opportunity to show his defensive prowess in these settings and did not disappoint. He mirrors receivers, reads routes, and attacks the ball. His offensive instincts are apparent when the ball is in the air.
Also a basketball and track athlete, his personal record of 6’-4.5” in the high jump helps to verify the explosiveness he displays on the football field. The versatile prospect has all the tools needed to develop into a high-level starter in Baton Rouge. His slender 6’-2” frame combined with his athleticism and competitive nature reminds of a former Corey Raymond recruit, Rashard Robinson.
Next Up for the Tiger Secondary Recruiting
Brian Kelly has some significant wins in his 2026 class, which is currently ranked 13th by the 247 Composite. Its 11 commitments are far fewer than any class ranked above LSU, so the class will rise quickly as the class grows. Ellis’s LSU commitment is the second at the cornerback position in the 2026 class. California native Havon Finney was the first. The Tigers went cornerback-heavy in their 2025 class with three high school signees and two transfers, so they aren’t looking to overhaul the room with the current class. However, a team can never have too many quality cornerbacks, so we wouldn’t rule out LSU taking another one.
Hayward Howard of New Orleans bucked the trend of LSU taking whomever it wanted from Karr High School when he committed to Texas. The Longhorns and Tigers have fought lengthy battles for secondary prospects recently. Texas flipped Kade Phillips, but LSU held onto Aidan Anding in last year’s cycle. So Raymond won’t give up on Howard easily.
The Tigers are reportedly recruiting Haynesville’s Isaiah Washington as a safety, but his skill set offers versatility. Another under-the-radar player from north Louisiana, Washington’s track success complemented his play on the football field, resulting in an LSU offer. He’s one to watch when considering who could be next up to come on board.
Main Image: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
