LSU’s running back recruiting push heats up as 2027 target Trey Martin returns to Baton Rouge

LSU football is turning up the heat on its 2027 recruiting board for running back Trey Martin, a Louisiana native whose next visit could further test the Tigers’ momentum heading into the start of a new season cycle. According to Yahoo Sports, LSU is in pole position for Martin and has framed his recruitment as part of a larger plan to keep a traditionally fast, physical run game stocked with talent.

Martin, a four-star prospect, is ranked as a top 200 player in the 2027 class and is listed as the No. 12 running back in the 2027 recruiting class in 247Sports’ composite rankings, per the report. Those kinds of placement details matter for LSU because the Tigers are not simply searching for bodies at the position. They are targeting difference-makers who can earn touches early and also fit the program’s emphasis on versatility and sustained drives.

The report also places LSU’s current approach in context. LSU has already added multiple running backs through the transfer portal this offseason, which has helped reinforce an already deep position group. In other words, the Tigers are not treating this recruitment as a reaction. They are continuing to reload at running back while building long-term continuity for the next several recruiting classes.

LSU’s push is being tied directly to its staff’s in-state recruiting relationships. Lane Kiffin and the Tigers’ staff are pursuing Martin, the report says, and Martin previously attended a junior day in Baton Rouge in January. That sort of campus event visit often functions as more than a recruiting stop, allowing coaching staff to evaluate fit in front of high-level prospects while also showing how the program’s offensive identity translates in person.

While LSU is described as leading, the report cautions that it is not the only program pressing. One SEC rival is said to be “nipping at the Tigers’ heels,” reflecting the reality that top in-state and near-in-state prospects often draw multiple serious offers once recruitment enters its late phases.

Martin is reportedly set to return to campus this month. If LSU’s next in-person meeting strengthens the relationship, it could put the Tigers in a better position to convert Martin before the summer and fall recruiting calendar moves into its most active stretches. For LSU, the timing also matters because the program’s roster construction for the coming season is already layered, with portal additions expected to shape immediate depth while incoming high school prospects shape what the offense looks like several recruiting cycles down.

What to watch next is whether LSU’s lead narrows further as Martin’s visit comes and goes, and whether additional recruiting pressure forces LSU to escalate. If Martin’s recruitment develops as the report suggests, the Tigers would be positioning themselves to keep their run game stocked with talent across both immediate and long-range time frames.

Even with that optimism, recruiting outcomes remain fluid. Talent and rankings do not guarantee a commitment, and LSU’s own blend of portal players plus scholarship recruits means the coaching staff can emphasize a clear path for carries and development without needing to rush a decision.