How does a coach recruit an athlete who has everything?
Jalen Brewster, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle, is rated as the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class. He’s committed to Texas Tech, one of the nation’s richest programs in the NIL era.
But this is also a day and age where “commitments” are one tantalizing pitch away from “flipping.” LSU’s title-winning coach, Ed Orgeron, who has returned to Lane Kiffin’s staff as an ace recruiter, tried his best to turn Brewster during a visit to Baton Rouge this summer.
“We all need something,” Orgeron told an athlete who not only pounces on quarterbacks for Cedar Hill High School (Texas) but also lines up at quarterback, running for touchdowns with frightening size and speed.
“We all need to get better,” continued Orgeron, who told Brewster that he could make him even better. He pointed to a piece of advice Brewster heard moments earlier, which he otherwise never knew he needed.
“Because nobody ever told you that,” Orgeron said. “Think about that.”
Brewster, who posted a nearly 15-minute recap of his LSU visit to his personal YouTube channel on Friday, offered a glimpse of what Orgeron has brought back to LSU as a “special assistant to recruiting and defense.”
During the visit, the 64-year-old Cajun called Michael Irvin on FaceTime, presenting a Hall of Fame receiver to Brewster in the palm of his hand.
“Me and Mike are buddies,” Orgeron said. “Been knowing Mike for a while.”
After the call ended, Orgeron added his pitch: He’s learned so much in four decades as a coach and defensive line guru that he could impart that wisdom to the nation’s top recruit.
Brewster turned to his own camera to say, “Getting coached by a legend, 1 of 1.”
It remains to be seen if Orgeron left a strong enough impression to pry Brewster away from Texas Tech, but the Tigers are certainly battling across the border.
LSU just flipped four-star defensive back Karnell James from the University of Texas, and James said shortly after his Thursday announcement that he’s working to persuade Easton Royal, a five-star receiver from New Orleans, to also flip from the Longhorns to the Tigers.
Lamar Brown, LSU’s top recruit in the 2026 class, posted to X on Friday, just before Brewster’s video release, writing: “Come be apart (sic) of something that will be the most dominant group in the country for the next 3-4 years brudda.”
Nothing is ever over in recruiting, especially when NIL and revenue-sharing negotiations are invariably part of the process for five-star prospects. LSU is showing it has the resources, brand name and coaching cache to be in the mix for top recruits.
If the Tigers flip Brewster, it would supercharge a defensive line room that brought in five-stars Brown and Richard Anderson and upper-tier four-star Deuce Geralds in 2026. LSU also currently has top-50 edge rushers KJ Green and Chris Whitehead committed in 2027.
Brewster may be a Texas Tech commitment, but he’s not so devoted to the Red Raiders that he wouldn’t publicize his positive thoughts about LSU.
“As far as the people, it’s different,” Brewster said in his YouTube video.
At LSU, the recruit shot jumpers on a basketball hoop brought into the Tigers’ team meeting room. He played pickleball on LSU’s courts. He met with Kiffin.
He also toured the Tigers’ locker room and was impressed with their custom helmets and cleats that can change color.
“That helmet was hard,” Brewster said. “I ain’t gonna lie.”
Dialing up the former Miami Hurricanes legend wasn’t a new trick for Orgeron because Irvin recently joked on Instagram about another time Orgeron, who led the Canes defensive line from 1988-92, brought him into an LSU recruiting visit virtually.
“I couldn’t say anything to Coach O because that’s my guy,” said Irvin, who burst out laughing when he recalled that recruit ultimately pledged to Miami.
He could be referring to five-star edge rusher Jaiden Bryant, who flipped from the Tigers to the Canes on June 3.
“He got my subliminal (messages),” Irvin said.
At least with Brewster, Orgeron didn’t let Irvin have the last word.
He led Brewster down a hallway to where previous LSU greats are depicted. Orgeron pointed to defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence, who could recall Orgeron telling him he’d be the captain of a national title team during a recruiting visit.
“Speak and it’ll become,” Orgeron said.
Next in line was Joe Burrow.
“Ohio State didn’t want him,” he said of the Heisman winner.
Then Orgeron tapped on safety Grant Delpit, adding “Texas boy, Houston,” before he ended with offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry, who was judged as too small and committed to South Carolina before LSU swiped him late.
Cushenberry is now in the NFL.
“How about that, guys? It’s gonna happen,” Orgeron said to Brewster’s family. “I’m gonna put a ring on y’all so darn big you’re gonna have to have three fingers to wear that thing.”
Brewster’s takeaway: “LSU and Louisiana coaching, way different. Life after ball, development and getting to the League — that’s the main goal for me.”