LSU’s final spot in the 2021 recruiting class has been filled, and it’s gone to a one-time commitment from the 2020 cycle.
Georgia transfer defensive back Major Burns has committed to LSU and will sign on with the Tigers ahead of the 2021 season, he announced.
Burns, a Baton Rouge native, was an early-enrollee in Athens after coming out of Madison Prep in Baton Rouge a year ago, and he saw playing time as a true freshman this past fall in a stacked defensive backfield for the Bulldogs. As he geared up for his second year in college, Burns decided it was time for a change, and his decision to enter the NCAA’s Transfer Portal earlier this month resulted in a return home to suit up in purple-and-gold.
Burns, who originally committed to LSU in June 2019, was on board with the Tigers for six months before a late shift pushed him to sign with the Bulldogs. Now, he’s back in his hometown playing in front of friends and family.
With LSU head coach Ed Orgeron identifying safety and linebacker as two needs in the NCAA’s Transfer Portal, the Tigers walked away with new additions in Clemson linebacker transfer Mike Jones Jr. and Burns, who will suit up at safety for the Tigers after leaving high school as a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 13 safety prospect on the 247Sports Composite. Burns was ranked as the No. 182 overall prospect in the class and as a Top 10 recruit in Louisiana for the 2020 cycle.
LSU saw a starter at safety enter the NFL Draft in JaCoby Stevens, and another starter at the position departed this offseason as Maurice Hampton Jr. entered the NCAA’s Transfer Portal. LSU worked through spring practices with Jay Ward, a converted cornerback, as one starting safety, while Todd Harris Jr. lined up at the other strong safety spot. The Tigers also welcomed an early-enrollee in Derrick Davis Jr., who was able to get in plenty of reps alongside returning safeties Jordan Toles and Cam Lewis.
Sage Ryan and Matthew Langlois are the two other safety signees who will arrive at LSU this month, and they will now be joined by a second-year player in Burns.
After safety turned into a big concern this offseason, the decision to sign four safeties in Burns, Ryan, Davis and Langlois and the position move for Ward has defensive coordinator Daronte Jones likely feeling much more confident in the room moving into the 2021 season and beyond.
LSU’s 2021 recruiting class was ranked No. 3 nationally on the 247Sports Team Rankings, trailing only Alabama and Ohio State. The Tigers took a pair of transfers in Burns and Jones, and both were ranked as four-star transfer prospects.
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