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Baton Rouge, LA – In a surprising turn of events, highly-touted recruit M. Delane has announced his decision to decommit from the LSU Tigers. The announcement comes just days after LSU’s statement-making road victory over the Clemson Tigers in Week 1 — a win that has sent shockwaves through the college football world and reignited national championship hopes in Baton Rouge.
Delane, a top defensive back prospect, did not provide an immediate reason for his decommitment. However, recruiting analysts suggest that shifting priorities, depth chart considerations, or coaching style differences may have played a role. His decision is a significant blow to what had been shaping up as another elite recruiting class under head coach Brian Kelly.
Despite the recruiting loss, LSU is currently riding a wave of momentum on the field. The Tigers are coming off an impressive 34-21 win over Clemson at Death Valley (the other one), led by star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Nussmeier has quickly emerged as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate after a near-flawless performance, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.
In the post-game press conference, Brian Kelly was his usual candid self. When asked what separates this year’s LSU squad from past teams that often fell short of expectations or struggled with consistency, Kelly delivered a simple but powerful two-word answer:
“Accountability matters.”
Kelly elaborated, saying, “This is a different locker room. It’s a different culture. These guys hold each other accountable every day — on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom. That’s the biggest change from years past.”
The comments came in part as a response to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, who had downplayed LSU’s chances leading into the Week 1 matchup. Kelly didn’t hold back in his rebuttal, confidently pointing to his team’s composure and execution as proof that the Tigers are no longer the team prone to self-inflicted wounds or emotional collapses in big games.
“This isn’t about proving anyone wrong,” Kelly added. “It’s about proving ourselves right.”
While the Tigers celebrate a strong start to the season and brace for a tough SEC schedule ahead, the program will now have to do so without Delane, who had been a key part of their defensive future. Still, LSU’s on-field performance and cultural shift under Kelly seem to be resonating with both fans and players alike — suggesting that the best may still be yet to come for the Bayou Bengals.
Up next: LSU prepares for a home opener against Texas A&M, while the coaching staff begins to retool its recruiting efforts in light of Delane’s decommitment.
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