Miami Hurricanes' recruiting insider reveals why 5-star LSU commit DJ Pickett missed his visit to Coral Gables 

By Aman Sharma

Modified Oct 28, 2024 18:15 GMT

DJ Pickett, the elite cornerback prospect and a highly coveted five-star talent, recently committed to LSU on Jul. 17. Ranked as the No. 8 overall player and the second-best corner in his class, Pickett has garnered more than 40 scholarship offers, including one from the University of Miami.

The Miami Hurricanes had anticipated Pickett’s attendance at their matchup against Florida State, with expectations that he would make the trip to Coral Gables after being present at two prior Hurricanes games this season. However, the high school star was notably absent from the visitor list on game day.

According to a recent On3 Recruits YouTube episode released on Oct. 28, Kaiden Smith (filling in for host Josh Newberg) joined Izubee Charles from CaneSport to discuss Pickett’s unexpected no-show.

Charles explained the primary reason behind the young cornerback’s change of plans, noting that "he was a late subtraction from that big visitor list."

"He was late subtraction from that big visitor list. DJ wanted to be a high school kid this weekend. It was his senior homecoming. He didn’t want to miss that out, but they’re trying to make it back next week for the Duke game,” he said.

Pickett joins a growing list of highly-rated defensive recruits committed to the Tigers’ 2025 class, including blue-chip players Kade Phillips, Jacob Bradford and Aidan Anding.

Kelly and his staff are focused on securing a strong defensive foundation, with hopes that Pickett’s decision to commit to LSU will remain solid as signing day approaches.

DJ Pickett’s commitment to LSU holds strong amid continued interest from top programs

Zephyrhills High School cornerback DJ Pickett pledged to LSU over Miami and Oregon this past July. As the nation’s top-ranked corner, Pickett’s decision has drawn significant interest, but he remains committed to the Tigers despite regular outreach from premier programs.

Pickett has visited Miami’s campus multiple times this season but has consistently affirmed his commitment to LSU. Most recently, he reiterated his decision by sharing a social media countdown until his LSU enrollment, leaving little doubt about his loyalty to Brian Kelly’s program.

Pickett explained his choice in July:

“I wish [Oregon and Miami] the best, but I’m at LSU now. If you are a DB, and Coach Raymond is at LSU, I feel that’s the right place to be at. That tells you everything right there.”

Pickett's father also cited LSU’s tradition of developing defensive backs under the guidance of secondary coach Corey Raymond, who is renowned for building elite defensive talent.

"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 they have developed so many DBs. Coach Raymond developed so many DBs at the school."

Alongside his recruitment journey, Pickett has excelled at Zephyrhills, amassing 109 receptions for 2,192 yards, averaging 20.1 yards per catch, and scoring 30 total touchdowns.