When LSU coach Brian Kelly watches freshman cornerback DJ Pickett, he's reminded of Kyle Hamilton, one of the best defensive players he ever had at Notre Dame.
Hamilton, a 6-foot-4 safety, was a two-time first-team All-America selection. In three years with the Baltimore Ravens, he has been voted to the Pro Bowl twice. He was named first-team All-Pro in 2023.
"(Pickett) is unique as a player," Kelly said Thursday night on his radio show. "I had a kid like that at Notre Dame in Kyle Hamilton, who I knew as a freshman was unique as a player. This is a unique player. You're going to enjoy watching him play."
Pickett was a five-star recruit and the No. 2 cornerback in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, making him the highest-rated freshman in LSU's class.
"He's long. He's athletic. And the thing is, he's got long speed," Kelly said. "That doesn't happen. These guys don't normally have long speed. And when I say long speed, he can track the ball and beat you down the field, as well."
Make a play DJ pic.twitter.com/D2gA1EsMrd
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Similar to Hamilton, Pickett stands out as a defensive back because of his height. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds.
"With his length, you're not going to throw a slant," Kelly said. "You can't throw the dig route. I mean, he's just too long. He's 72 inches in wingspan. It's ridiculous. He's like an offensive lineman."
Pickett has also impressed defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who said Pickett has gained about 20 pounds since he came to LSU. Though Pickett needs to work on his consistency, Baker said, he has become more physical.
"I've been more impressed with his physicality so far," Baker said. "The coverage skills and stuff, he's always had that — and he's gotten better, don't get me wrong — but his physicality, he has turned it up a notch this fall camp."
After enrolling early at LSU, Pickett is competing for playing time with junior Ashton Stamps, redshirt sophomore Florida transfer Ja'Keem Jackson and sophomore PJ Woodland. Pickett has usually been seen with the second-team defense during open practices.
A week from the season-opener against Clemson, LSU has to decide which one will start. Stamps has consistently received first-team reps during preseason practice after starting 17 games over the past two years, but the competition has not been decided.
One of the cornerback spots already has. Kelly said Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane will "anchor one side." Delane started 29 straight games before entering the transfer portal, and he was one of LSU's top targets as it tried to improve the secondary.
"Mansoor Delane was the guy that we had our eyes on," Kelly said. "He had the highest draft grade of anybody that was in the portal at that position, and we recruited the heck out of him."
LSU's pass defense has ranked 76th or worse in the country in yards passing allowed per game in four of the past five years. With Delane and safeties Tamarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy, at least three of LSU's four starting defensive backs will likely be transfers.
"Two exceptional safeties with a lot of experience," Kelly said.