4-Star Safety Picks LSU Over Ole Miss. Here’s What He Said About the Visit.

Lane Kiffin hasn’t even coached a game at LSU yet and he’s already stacking commitments. The Tigers landed a big one Tuesday when four-star safety Jayden Anding gave them his pledge, choosing LSU over Ole Miss — Kiffin’s former program.

Anding, a Louisiana native, is part of the 2027 class and currently ranks as the No. 25 safety in the country. He had offers from a bunch of SEC schools. Oklahoma wanted him. Miami put a offer on the table too. But after a recent visit to Baton Rouge, Anding said the decision became pretty clear.

“LSU is an incredible program with a winning tradition,” Anding told Rivals. “The coaches have been consistent throughout my recruitment, and they’ve shown they believe in me both as a player and as a person. They’ve definitely made me feel like a priority. Also, they have made this recruitment process about me, specifically, about me and not about my brother.”

That brother reference is notable. Jayden’s older brother, Aidan Anding, was a four-star defensive back who committed to LSU a few years ago. So the younger Anding already had a pretty good idea what he was walking into.

Kiffin’s Quick Turnaround on the Trail

Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU during the 2025 season, replacing Brian Kelly after he was fired. It was one of the more dramatic coaching moves in recent memory, happening mid-campaign and setting off a chain reaction across the SEC. Now Kiffin is trying to lock down the state of Louisiana early, and Anding is a solid start.

“Deep deep down in the waters where I was raised,” Anding said, when asked about his commitment. Hard to argue with that kind of hometown loyalty.

Anding is currently a top-10 prospect in Louisiana heading into his senior season. LSU has a history of keeping elite in-state talent home, and this commitment suggests that trend isn’t changing under Kiffin.

The Tigers open the 2026 season against Clemson on September 5. Kiffin’s staff has a lot of work left to do on the recruiting trail, but landing a four-star safety who turned down Ole Miss and several other SEC programs? That’s a pretty good start.