"Who would want to play for Brian Kelly?"; "Texas check bounced": Fans react as 5-star defensive star snubs Arch Manning's Texas for LSU 

Trenton Henderson’s commitment to LSU is another reminder that proximity, relationships and legacy still carry real weight in college football’s modern recruiting wars, even in an era dominated by NIL headlines and superstar quarterbacks like Arch Manning.

Henderson, a consensus blue-chip EDGE rusher from Pensacola, could have joined Texas or Florida but instead chose Baton Rouge, citing LSU’s proven pipeline for defensive talent and his bond with defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples. The fact that LSU sits closer to his Florida hometown than Gainesville might seem like a small factor.

Hayes Fawcett

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BREAKING: Elite 2026 EDGE Trenton Henderson has Committed to LSU, he tells me for

@rivals

The 6’5 230 EDGE from Pensacola, FL chose the Tigers over Florida & Texas

“Thank you God, I’m home! Geaux Tigers 🐯”

Fan reactions to the news reflected how intense these recruiting battles have become.

“Who would want to play for Brian Kelley in 2025?” a fan asked.

“Texas check bounced,” another fan wrote.

“What’s going on in North Ocala???” one wrote.

Screenshot, via X

“This ain't over. Once he sees us go into baton rouge and pull off a miracle he will change his mind trust btw 2mil a year for an edge rusher is literally insane,” another wrote.

“Money not saving texas??” a fan wrote.

“Texas about to throw a $100 million NIL deal at Atkinson because they can’t win a recruit battle to save their lives,” another wrote.

But underneath the noise, Trenton Henderson’s move signals that LSU’s defensive identity remains one of the SEC’s biggest recruiting advantages, a tradition strong enough to sway a prospect rated as high as No. 28 overall by 247Sports.

For Texas, losing out on a top defensive piece despite the Arch Manning spotlight shows that building a championship roster still hinges on the trenches, and that some defensive stars want proven development over quarterback hype. For Florida, missing on an in-state pass rusher to an out-of-state SEC rival underscores the Gators’ ongoing challenge to keep elite talent home.

Ultimately, Henderson’s decision keeps LSU firmly stocked on the edge, extending a pipeline that’s become part of the Tigers’ identity, and reminding everyone that when it comes to building future NFL defenses, Baton Rouge is still one of the first places top prospects look.

Trenton Henderson is a significant addition than just another top-100 name on Brian Kelly’s 2026 board

LSU’s latest addition emerged as a symbol of how LSU is adapting its recruiting strategy to stay in the playoff hunt during a turbulent stretch.

LSU’s 2026 class now sits at 12 pledges, half inside the Top 100, giving Kelly a stabilizing headline after losing No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood last cycle.

Pulling Henderson from Florida for the second straight year shows LSU isn’t ceding any ground in the Sunshine State, despite fierce SEC battles for talent. Pairing Henderson with names like five-star lineman Richard Anderson and four-stars Havon Finney and Aiden Hall gives the Tigers a defensive core that could offset a brutal 2025 slate.

Clemson, Alabama, Ole Miss and Oklahoma all loom as road tests that will demand fresh defensive firepower.

For Kelly, Trenton Henderson’s a signal that LSU can reload fast enough to stay relevant in the national title chase. In today’s recruiting landscape, that alone is worth as much as any sack total.