Lane Kiffin adds former Houston recruit to LSU, jokes about Mathieu comeback

Lane Kiffin, the new head coach of LSU football, secured a commitment from former Houston wide receiver Gary Burney Jr. The 6‑foot‑4 athlete, a four‑star recruit who had also drawn interest from Baylor and Cincinnati, flipped his commitment to LSU after a meeting with wide‑receivers coach George McDonald. Burney, who starred at Parkway High in Bossier City, Louisiana, posted impressive high‑school numbers with 1,367 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, and also competes in track events.

In a separate interview, Kiffin responded humorously to a social‑media post by former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu, who asked whether he could return to play college football. Kiffin joked about Mathieu’s request, noting the game’s speed and conditioning demands, while reaffirming his confidence that LSU will soon contend for a national championship.