LSU further solidifies future tight end room with JD LaFleur
LSU added 2025 tight end JD LaFleur on Tuesday afternoon, an LSU legacy from Sulphur, Louisiana. LaFleur wasted no time shutting down his recruitment, making it clear wearing the purple and gold was the only thing on his mind.
LaFleur camped and visited LSU this summer, getting to work hands on with offensive coordinator and tight end’s coach Mike Denbrock, further solidifying his excitement about LSU.
There’s still a long way to go for LaFleur, who still has a junior and senior year to play before arriving on campus, but it’s not too early to look at the Tigers’ tight end room of the future. A position that was starting from ground zero when Denbrock and Brian Kelly took over, now has players/commits from four classes stretching from 2022-2025.
Let’s take a look at the Tight end room of the future at LSU as it currently stands.
Class of 2022: Mason Taylor
Taylor came to LSU as a three-star prospect out of Florida in Kelly’s first class and he was thrust into the spotlight as a true freshman. He surpassed anyone’s expectations, ending the year with 38 receptions for 414 yards, including massive scores in the win over Alabama.
Taylor was voted to the preseason second-team All-SEC for 2023, as one of the top returning tight ends in the conference. With two more strong seasons at LSU, Taylor won’t be here for a senior season in 2025. Regardless, his impact in rebuilding this room was incredibly significant.
Class of 2023: Ka’Morreun Pimpton, Mac Markway, Jackson McGohan, Connor Gilbreath (JUCO)
Photo: Billy Embody – On3
This was the key class for Denbrock in rebuilding the tight end room. It’s not just the fact he added three freshmen at the position, but he got three players with varying skill sets that all have significant upside. Pimpton is a 6-foot-6 towering receiver, McGohan has exceptional speed and YAC ability, then Markway is the high-level blocker of the group.
We’ll have to wait and see how the three contribute in year one at LSU, but if the Tigers can keep the trio on the roster for a few years, it has the potential to give Kelly and Denbrock the flexibility in their personnel packages they’ve aspired for.
Gilbreath was a quality junior college addition, who sets up to help the Tigers right away as an in-line blocker and a massive body to help establish the edge for LSU in certain situations.
Class of 2024: Trey’Dez Green
Photo: Trey’Dez Green
Green committed to LSU back in April and is still the highest rated commitment in the class in August. Green’s incredible athleticism paired with his 6-foot-7 frame makes him one of the highest upside prospects Denbrock has coming to LSU.
There will be significant expectations for Green to contribute as a freshman, but with Taylor and the aforementioned trio of tight ends, there should be adequate depth to compete with. It’s 2024 where the room really gets to where it needs to be. Taylor will be a junior, the three 2023s will have a year under their belts, Gilbreath should be back for year three, and Green will come in to round out the room with his incredibly high upside.
Class of 2025: JD LaFleur
Denbrock could certainly add more tight ends to this class, but getting LaFleur on board is a great start. At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, with a great football background, he’s certainly someone I’d be confident betting on rising in the coming years. He performed really well at LSU’s camp and by the time 2025 comes around, will have rounded out his game. The combination of LaFleur with Green is exactly what Denbrock needs in his tight end room.
There’s a lot of different situations both can be on the field at the same time and with Green’s abilities as a playmaker, the field will open up for the rest of the offense. LaFleur has two more years to refine his game, but right now his hands and overall fluidity as a receiver is something that should translate in 2025. We’ll see how his junior and senior seasons unfold and what he becomes in the coming years.
Overall
Denbrock and Kelly have both used tight ends frequently in their offenses over the years and now at LSU, they have access to some high-level athletes that can further open up the versatility within their offense. The 2022 and 2023 classes were necessary, now they’ve added commitments in Green and LaFleur that further raise the ceiling and potential of the room.
We’ll see how the upcoming offseasons shake out, but at the moment, Denbrock is excelling in putting together one of the better tight end rooms in the conference for the coming years.
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