LSU Tigers Fail To Get Prized QB To Flip From South Carolina Commitment

The LSU Tigers and Lane Kiffin were hoping to make a late push for South Carolina Gamecocks commit Landon Duckworth, but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

Duckworth is the No. 132-ranked quarterback in the nation per 247Sports' composite rankings. He's the 10th-ranked passer in the country and the sixth overall player in the state of Alabama.

The Jackson native had visited the Tigers back during the season when Brian Kelly and Joe Sloan were going after him, all the while committed to the Gamecocks. Nothing had come of it then, but Kiffin gave it another shot and had gotten Duckworth to delay signing with South Carolina per Rivals.

On Thursday morning, though Duckworth put pen to paper and officially rebuffed LSU's attempt. That took the last real quarterback in the Top 50 that it really felt like the Tigers could sign. He's a talented player that would have filled a massive need for Kiffin's roster construction.

This will mark the second recruiting class in a row that LSU failed to sign a high school quarterback, barring a late push for one of a three-star target, after Bryce Underwood's late flip to the Michigan Wolverines left the Tigers stranded last year.

Kiffin will now have to really overhaul that quarterback room with transfer portal options next season. It shouldn't be hard to get talent to join the team, given his track record, the school itself and the talent on offense, but there's just no real clarity right now.

Michael Van Buren and Colin Hurley will be the only quarterbacks on the roster. Van Buren has underperformed since taking over for Garrett Nussmeier. Hurley has been away from the team and was a Kelly guy, so a transfer is likely.