Lane Kiffin sets realistic expectations for LSU 5-star freshman DL Lamar Brown

There are some high expectations for LSU Tigers' freshman defensive lineman Lamar Brown.

New head coach Lane Kiffin did not shy away from that as he spoke to the media during the first days of fall camp.

"Lamar is a great height, weight, and speed combination and very rare to find," Kiffin said, according to Ylver Deleon-Rios of OnSI. "He's an awesome kid, really intelligent, really well-spoken, and really has really good thoughts when you meet with him about being great and what it takes."

Brown is a local kid from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who was one of the biggest LSU recruiting pickups in some time. He was ranked as the No. 1 athlete in the 2026 class and the No. 3 recruit overall, according to the 247Sports Composite. 

Lamar Brown is a two-way threat for LSU Tigers

He was listed as an athlete because he could easily play either offensive or defensive line at the college level. LSU recruited him as a defensive lineman, though.

Checking in at 6-foot-5 and nearly 300 pounds, Brown notched 29 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles on defense while playing at an All-American level as an offensive lineman.

He very well could be just as dominant at the college level, but Kiffin is urging those who are feeling the hype in Baton Rouge to be patient.

"We're really excited about him, his ability to do multiple things," Kiffin said. "Again, that will take a little time; he just got here. I think everybody expects all these freshmen to have these elite freshman years, and that's not really what's happening a lot around the country because rosters don't have as many holes because they're filled by portal players. I might temper some expectations on all these freshmen that every one of them will start and be All-Americans."