No. 1 cornerback in America, LSU commit DJ Pickett reiterates his promise to the Tigers

Five-star cornerback DJ Pickett from Zephyrhills, Florida, announced his commitment to the LSU Tigers in July, with the decision sending shockwaves throughout the recruiting community.

The No. 1 cornerback in America chose Brian Kelly’s program over Oregon and Miami, but that hasn’t stopped the top programs from making contact.

Pickett returned to Baton Rouge over the weekend for the program’s Top 15 matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide, and despite the lopsided loss, the top-ranked cornerback reaffirmed his commitment to LSU.

“It’s about my son being happy, my son feeling good, and my son getting on the field sooner, and we feel like that spot is LSU,” Pickett’s father Damien told Steve Wiltfong of On3 Sports.

Despite a rebound from the Miami Hurricanes down the stretch, Pickett has doubled down on his commitment to the LSU Tigers.

LSU cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond took over at point guard in Pickett’s recruitment. Since his time with the Florida Gators in 2023, he has been involved in the No. 1 defense in the USA.

The relationship built over a year ago was evident in Pickett’s recruitment upon his return to Baton Rouge.

What ultimately made Pickett feel at home? What tricks did Raymond have up his sleeve to secure the signing of the Sunshine State’s top prospect?

The deciding factor: Corey Raymond’s skills

Pickett made it clear and clear what brought him to Baton Rouge. Five-star LSU cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond was the deciding factor in why he ultimately chose the Tigers over the Oregon Ducks and Miami Hurricanes, with the “DBU” architect doing it again in recruiting.

“I wish (Oregon and Miami) the best, but I’m at LSU now,” Pickett said after announcing his decision in July. “If you are a DB and Coach Raymond is at LSU, I believe this is the place for you. That tells you everything.”

It was easy. After Raymond was hired by Kelly and rejoined the LSU staff, Pickett’s attention turned to Baton Rouge.

He believed in the vision Raymond had for him, whether it was at Florida or LSU.

Raymond and the Florida Gators parted ways after the 2023 season before LSU brought him back to The Boot in January 2024.

After returning to the staff, Raymond turned all the court press against Pickett, a decision that paid off in the long run.

“Just the Corey Raymond factor. And it’s Defensive Back U. DBU. That’s a big factor for LSU,” Pickett’s father told On3Sports. “The fact that they developed so many DBs. Coach Raymond developed so many DBs at the school. Recruitment is the focus. There are so many greats who played at LSU. I would say LSU has history.”

The Pitch: Help bring “DBU” back

It’s no secret that Raymond has recruited at a high level throughout his career. From signing Derek Stingley to other Tigers legends, the proof is in the product. He is a recruiting guru and has proven it time and time again.

When it came to Pickett, he never missed a beat. It was about restoring the “DBU” title, and it started with bringing a coveted recruit like Pickett to Death Valley.

“I feel like they just need the right people to come in there and change the whole thing,” Pickett said via On3 Sports. “It only takes a year and then it starts.”

Now Pickett is a player who can give the Tigers a long-term start on defense, where he will likely join the roster as a rookie in 2025.

The connection: LSU great Patrick Peterson

Raymond reached deep into his bag of tricks when recruiting Pickett. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to secure his services, so he pulled out the X factor: Patrick Peterson.

During Pickett’s official visit to LSU in early June, Peterson flew to Louisiana to help with the recruiting drive, where he walked side-by-side with Pickett through the Football Operations Building.

Peterson, who like Pickett is from the Sunshine State, brought his talents as a sought-after prospect to Louisiana, where the Tigers are now using that resource in his recruitment. A source confirmed to LSU Tigers On SI that Peterson and Pickett have kept in touch and it has become a key element in LSU’s push.

LSU valued early playing time, versatility in the defensive backfield and more when it came to on-field offerings, but the NIL factor was certainly a deciding factor in this game.

With heavyweights like Oregon and Miami in the mix, LSU had to pull out all the stops to remain an option.

After LSU rolled out the red carpet, kept pace with the top programs in the NIL area and utilized its resources, it led the Tigers to receive a verbal commitment from the top-ranked cornerback in the country.

It will be a fight to the finish for LSU when it comes to securing his signature in December, but the Tigers proved they have entered new-age recruiting mode after adding Pickett to the 2025 class have.

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers on SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.