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LSU head coach Brian Kelly experienced one of the most significant and public losses of the early college football signing period before he took the mic at Signing Day in Baton Rouge on Wednesday.

Two five-star recruits previously committed to LSU opted to sign elsewhere in the past week. Most notably, No. 1 overall recruit and quarterback Bryce Underwood chose Michigan instead. According to reports, his NIL offer exceeded $10 million.

While Kelly acknowledged that not all recruits handle the process similarly, he expressed concern that many coveted high school players prioritize financial gain over finding their ideal fit or building meaningful relationships.

“It’s not just about finding the right fit, it’s about the most money I can get,” Kelly said. “That’s unfortunate, but it’s the world we live in. You realign and readjust.”

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Kelly then shifted focus to celebrate the talent he did secure. “These guys wanted to be here… that’s much more important to me than the guys who didn’t want to be here,” he said.

The SEC landscape features both high-end recruits and substantial financial commitments in the NIL era, which Kelly likened to “tax day.” He emphasized the importance of financial backing in modern recruitment.

“Your brand has to be backed up by dollars if you want to be able to close some of these [deals],” he said, noting that a program-building collective is now mandatory in today’s landscape.

Despite the setbacks, LSU secured a significant addition in five-star cornerback DJ Pickett, who brings versatility to both sides of the ball.

“We believe he is hands down the best cornerback in the country,” Kelly said. “Incredible length at 6-4. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt there’s a lockdown corner, but he is as close as it gets. And, his film on offense might be even better. He’s just elite.”

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