Will LSU football's five-star freshman WR play this fall?

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LSU football's recruiting class didn't change much when Lane Kiffin took the head coaching job, despite Kiffin taking over just a few days before the Early Signing Period. Kiffin and Co. did a good job holding on to LSU's top commits.

But Kiffin's staff added a name to the class, too. Wide receiver Corey Barber flipped to the Tigers, backing off his Ole Miss commitment. With Kiffin taking nearly the entire offensive staff from Oxford, Barber decided to follow.

Barber filled a need in LSU's recruiting class. After losing wide receiver commits like Tristen Keys and Kenny Darby, LSU needed another blue-chip pass catcher. Barber fit the billing. Rivals labeled Barber a five-star and the No. 28 overall player in the class. 247Sports wasn't quite as high, ranking Barber No. 61 overall and No. 9 at his position. Still, Rivals' ranking speaks to the ceiling of the receiver from Alabama.

That said, is there room for Barber to make an immediate impact in 2026? LSU only returns one wide receiver who caught a pass for the Tigers last year, and that's Phillip Wright's lone reception. LSU hit the transfer portal to build its wide receiver room, signing several coveted names.

The room is deep, but given the uncertainty and lack of returning production, it's wide open. Anyone can earn playing time.

We know Kiffin isn't afraid to play a true freshman at wide receiver. Last year at Ole Miss, Winston Watkins saw plenty of targets (Watkins is at LSU now). If Barber is deserving, he won't be kept off the field solely because of his youth. He was an early enrollee, too, giving him a head start on the playbook.

However, LSU's portal haul at wide receiver included quite a few veterans. Guys like Jayce Brown, Tre Brown, and Jackson Harris have proven production. Watkins knows the system after being with Kiffin at Ole Miss. That could make it tough for Barber to crack the field.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Barber carve out a massive role, but he likely won't be one of LSU's go-to guys this fall.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Can LSU football's 5-star WR earn immediate playing time?

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