LSU landed a commitment from one of the top edge rushers in the 2025 class on Friday.
Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central edge Damien Shanklin announced his commitment to the Tigers on Friday. A 4-star recruit in the industry-generated 247 Composite, Shanklin was highly sought after. He had a final 3 of LSU, Ohio State, and Alabama, but he also held offers from the likes of Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and USC.
Shanklin took official visits to LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Alabama throughout the end of May and June. (Though the Vols didn’t have a hat on the table when he made his decision.) LSU’s presentation, despite being first in the process, stood above the rest.
“I just felt like I was at home,” Shanklin told 247Sports’ Tom Loy of his decision. “Having that bond with Coach Kelly, Coach Baker, and Coach Peoples, I felt I could see myself building a legacy there.”
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Shanklin is a 6-foot-5, 226-pound defensive end with good length and athleticism. He’s ranked as the top recruit from the state of Indiana in the 2025 class and the No. 10 edge rusher in the country. Overall, he sits at No. 110 in the national player rankings.
He’s a multi-sport athlete, who also competes in track and field, throwing shot put and discus. As a junior last fall, Shanklin recorded 66 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 1 interception. He also had 8 TFLs, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble as a sophomore the year prior.
LSU has been on a heater on the recruiting trail of late, with Shanklin’s pledge marking the fifth verbal commitment in the last 2 weeks. He’s also the third player to join the 2025 class since July 4, joining 4-star defensive lineman Zion Williams — who announced on Independence Day — and 4-star defensive lineman Brandon Brown.
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With 15 known commitments, the 2025 class has shot up to No. 6 in the national team rankings at 247Sports. Coach Brian Kelly is putting together a special class, headlined by 5-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and 5-star running back Harlem Berry. Fourteen of the 15 known commits are 4-stars or better, and Shanklin is the sixth blue-chip defender to publicly declare for the Tigers.
You can see his highlight tape below, via Hudl:
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
