LSU has been flipping bats all summer with its home run surge, and the Tigers just pulled off another kind of flip: four-star defensive back Karnell James committed to LSU on Thursday.
“Greedy” James, a consensus four-star safety, had been committed to Texas since Dec. 3, 2025. But an “amazing” visit to Baton Rouge from June 5-7 helped persuade him to switch his pledge to LSU.
“What stood out the most was the relationships with the staff, the culture around the program, and seeing firsthand how much of a priority I am for them,” James told TigerBait. “They were very intentional with me throughout the visit. I spent a lot of time with the staff, got to sit down with the coaches and GM, and they made it clear how they see me fitting into their program.”
James’ ties to Louisiana run deep. His family is originally from New Orleans, and his father, also named Karnell, played basketball at St. Augustine High School, the alma mater of former LSU stars Leonard Fournette and Tyrann Mathieu.
LSU is recruiting James as a cornerback rather than a safety. The push to flip him was led by cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond, whom James praised for his track record of developing defensive backs.
“Coach Raymond is one of the best DB coaches in the country,” James said. “He’s real with me, believes in me, and has a proven track record of developing defensive backs at the highest level. His message was that he believes in my ability as a corner and that if I come in and work, he’ll help me reach my full potential. His track record speaks for itself.”
Raymond has been central to LSU’s DBU reputation, sending multiple Tigers defensive backs to the NFL, most recently former All-American and first-round pick Mansoor Delane. Raymond's success in developing elite players was a factor in James’ growing interest in LSU before he pledged to the Tigers.
“It’s definitely a factor,” James said of LSU’s DBU status. “LSU has produced a lot of elite defensive backs, and anytime you’re looking at schools, you pay attention to programs that consistently develop players at your position.”
James is the 15th commitment of the 2027 recruiting cycle. He is the second defensive back to commit to the Tigers following Markez Davis, who committed to the Tigers on June 8.
