2025 5-Star RB Prospect Harlem Berry Commits to LSU Over Texas, Alabama, More

Five-star running back Harlem Berry isn't leaving his home state, with the Louisiana native committing to LSU on Wednesday.

"It's a great feeling, just being a 'stay at home' kid—a state hero, I guess you could say—and having my family close to home and everything," he said to ESPN's Blake Baumgartner.

Berry is the top-ranked running back and No. 16 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings of the 2025 class.

Per Baumgartner, Berry ran for 2,080 yards and 37 touchdowns, averaging more than 13 yards per carry, this season at St. Martin's Episcopal School. He also caught 20 passes for 401 yards and seven scores.

Berry, 5'11" and 175 pounds, was the 1A state champion in the 100-meter dash after crossing the finish line in 10.57 seconds. He reflected to Baumgartner how he represents a bit of a shift for the Tigers in terms of his running profile.

"I definitely feel I'll be a game changer for LSU's offense, especially with the backs that they have produced," he said. "A lot of them, most of them, have not been like me. A lot of them are power backs, more between the tackle type backs, so I'm excited to see how I fit into that offense."

The transfer portal has made it tough to project a team's roster even a year into the future.

Logan Diggs was LSU's second-leading rusher (653 yards and seven touchdowns) behind Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as a junior. He will have graduated as Berry is arriving in Baton Rouge.

That might open the door for Berry to make an immediate impact. Head coach Brian Kelly may have added a running back through the portal by then, though,

Perhaps one of Kaleb Jackson or Caden Durham has made a breakthrough as well. Jackson, a 4-star recruit in 2023, had 163 rushing yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman. Durham is the eighth-best running back in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2024.

However LSU's backfield looks, Durham clearly has the potential to become a big-time playmaker.