Recruiting: LSU gains 2023 commitment from Liberty Magnet RB Kaleb Jackson over Alabama

LSU has been impressive in the past two weeks on the football recruiting trail.

For Tiger fans and head coach Brian Kelly, it’s even more satisfying when the SEC’s biggest wolf is kept out of the hen house.

That happened Tuesday when LSU gained their second running back commitment for the ’23 signing class and the third overall prospect from Louisiana when Liberty Magnet’s Kaleb Jackson pledged to the Purple and Gold over Alabama live on Instagram.

The Baton Rouge native narrowed his final choices to hometown Tigers and Crimson Tide, with Texas A&M among the other top options. He joins another Pelican state back, Union Parish’s Trey Holly, as a 2023 LSU pledge.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Jackson visited LSU on June 16, Alabama on June 17 and Texas A&M on June 24.

The 12th ranked player overall in Louisiana for 2023 also fielded offers from Florida, Florida State, Nebraska, Penn State, Auburn, Ole Miss, Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee. Assistant coach Frank Wilson handled lead recruiting duties for LSU.

Last season, Jackson totaled 2,031 rushing yards with 29 scores, averaging 14.7 yards per tote. He tacked on 12 catches for 394 yards and four morescores. As a sophomore in 2020, he recorded 907 yards on the ground with 12 scores.

Jackson runs with power, yet has breakaway speed with times of 4.45 in the 40-yard dash and 10.6 in the 100 meters. Once he hits the hole, he shows a special gear as a game breaker.

Jackson’s decision may help LSU break a trend which follows 2022 recruiting in the state. All of the top five running backs in Louisiana’s 2022 class went out of state: LeVeon Moss (Texas A&M), Trevor Etienne (Florida), Tre’Vonte Citizen (Miami), Dylan Sampson (Tennessee) and Ajay Allen (Nebraska). Alabama also reeled in four of Louisiana’s top 25 players in ’22, all of which werre LSU targets including wideouts Aaron Anderson (#2 ranked overall) Kendrick Law (#5), and Shazz Preston (39) plus tight end Danny Lewis (#25).