Five-Star Recruit Stuns College Football World by Rejecting $6.7 Million, Decommitting From TCU, and Choosing LSU Over Notre Dame, Georgia

In one of the most shocking developments of the college football recruiting cycle, five-star recruit Jeremiah “JJ” Robinson has flipped the script and the national narrative. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound edge rusher out of Chandler, Arizona, stunned the college football world by decommitting from TCU despite reportedly being offered a staggering $6.7 million in NIL deals to stay committed. Instead, Robinson has committed to play for Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers, choosing Baton Rouge over powerhouse programs like Notre Dame and Georgia.

This decision has reverberated far beyond the SEC. In an era where name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation is driving much of the recruiting buzz and shaping college football’s new power structure, Robinson’s decision to walk away from one of the largest known NIL offers in recent memory speaks volumes—not just about his personal values, but about LSU’s growing momentum and influence on the national stage.

Robinson had committed to TCU early in the process, surprising many who believed he was headed for a blue-blood like Alabama, Ohio State, or Georgia. His pledge to the Horned Frogs was seen as a potential game-changer for the Big 12 program, especially given his elite athleticism, violent first step, and ceiling as a future top-10 NFL Draft pick. But as his senior season progressed, the whispers grew louder. There were quiet visits. Private conversations. Subtle Instagram likes and cryptic posts that sent fanbases into a frenzy. And then, this week, the bombshell dropped: Robinson was decommitting from TCU.

The first reaction was financial. How could any recruit turn down nearly $7 million, especially at a program where he’d be the centerpiece? Sources close to Robinson’s family said the decision came after months of soul-searching, evaluating coaching staffs, and ultimately listening to his gut.

“JJ wants to play for championships,” a source told reporters Friday. “He respects what TCU tried to build with him, and they were great during the process. But he sees LSU as the place that’s going to develop him into a man, a better football player, and a future pro. It wasn’t about the money for him. It was about the fit, the vision, and the culture.”

LSU’s surge in recruiting under Brian Kelly has been well-documented. Since arriving from Notre Dame, Kelly has placed an emphasis on national recruiting while building from the inside out. He has turned LSU into a balanced, disciplined, and detail-oriented machine, supplementing its SEC-caliber speed with a structure that players and families have quickly grown to trust. Robinson’s commitment sends a powerful message: LSU isn’t just competing for top-tier players; it’s winning recruiting battles against programs with deeper NIL pockets and longer-standing pipelines.

For Kelly and defensive coordinator Blake Baker, this is a seismic addition. Robinson will arrive in Baton Rouge as one of the most physically gifted defenders LSU has landed in the past decade. Scouts rave about his motor, his bend, and his relentless pursuit of the ball. He’s the kind of player who can impact a game on any down, disrupt offensive rhythm, and eventually dominate the SEC. Pairing him with LSU’s recent front-seven additions paints a terrifying picture for opposing quarterbacks.

“Jeremiah is a culture-changer,” one recruiting analyst noted. “He plays angry, but it’s a controlled chaos. He diagnoses plays well, uses his hands like a veteran, and finishes with force. The idea that LSU just pulled him away from not only a massive NIL offer but also away from schools like Notre Dame and Georgia—that’s huge. That’s a statement.”

Indeed, both Notre Dame and Georgia made late pushes. Notre Dame’s defensive tradition and the pitch from new defensive line coach Al Washington resonated deeply with Robinson. The Georgia Bulldogs, meanwhile, offered immediate national title contention and the chance to join what’s become the premier defensive pipeline to the NFL. Robinson visited both campuses multiple times. But in the end, it was LSU that secured the signature.

“I’ve always believed in playing where my heart feels at peace,” Robinson wrote in his announcement post. “LSU is where I feel I belong. This decision isn’t about the hype or headlines. It’s about legacy, development, and winning with a brotherhood that’s real.”

For TCU, this is a brutal loss. The Horned Frogs had invested heavily in Robinson, building relationships not just with the recruit but with his entire family and support network. They were seen as taking a major step in proving that the NIL era could help close the gap between Power Five elites and upper-middle-tier programs. Robinson’s departure sets them back, but also provides a sobering reminder that culture and development still hold weight—even amid an NIL gold rush.

From a broader lens, Robinson’s decision represents a growing trend of top athletes choosing stability, development, and on-field fit over short-term financial windfalls. That doesn’t mean NIL isn’t a factor—of course it is—but the assumption that every recruit will simply chase the biggest bag is being proven wrong more and more often.

LSU, for its part, has embraced NIL but done so with a structured, sustainable approach. Boosters and collectives associated with the program have prioritized alignment with the coaching staff and long-term earning potential, focusing on players who buy into the program and its culture. That pitch, according to sources, resonated deeply with Robinson and his family.

What’s next for Robinson is enrolling early, joining a 2026 LSU class that’s now positioned to finish in the top three nationally. He’ll likely compete for a rotational role as a freshman, with an eye toward becoming a starter by year two. Given LSU’s recent track record with edge defenders—players like BJ Ojulari, Harold Perkins, and Arden Key—it’s not unreasonable to project Robinson as a future All-SEC selection and first-round pick.

Brian Kelly, speaking after the commitment, didn’t directly reference the financial dynamics of Robinson’s decision but made it clear this was a win for LSU’s values and vision.

“We recruit young men who want to be great—not just great football players, but great people,” Kelly said. “Jeremiah brings that passion, that fire, and that hunger to improve. We’re thrilled to have him and his family joining the LSU community.”

With Robinson’s commitment, LSU has sent a message not just to the SEC but to the entire college football landscape: the Tigers are building something special, and they’re doing it the right way. While programs chase headlines with outlandish NIL figures, LSU is stacking elite talent that buys into the team-first mentality. For a program looking to reclaim its national title aspirations, Robinson’s decision might be the clearest signal yet that LSU is ready to return to the summit—and perhaps stay there.

The road ahead won’t be easy. The SEC West remains a gauntlet, and the Tigers will still have to battle Alabama, Texas, and other heavyweights for future talent and on the field. But with players like Robinson choosing LSU over money and marquee names, it’s clear that the program is resonating at the highest level. College football may never return to its pre-NIL simplicity, but moments like this prove that some values—development, culture, trust—still carry the power to change the game.

And in Jeremiah Robinson, LSU just landed a player capable of doing exactly that.