LSU signed the nation’s top-rated linebacker Wednesday, which put a happy face on an otherwise frustrating day for the Tigers and first-year head coach Brian Kelly.

Kelly’s top catch was five-star linebacker Harold Perkins, a New Orleans native who played at Cy Park High School in the Houston area.

“Harold possesses all the traits to develop into a championship student-athlete with our program,” Kelly said via social media. “His talent speaks for itself, and I know he’s ready to work to become the very best he can be.”

But he was one of two recruits added to Kelly’s first recruiting class at LSU.

“I like the class I’m going to be a part of,” Perkins said during his televised decision.

The Tigers, who signed 13 players in the December early period and are relying heavily on the NCAA transfer portal for a depleted roster, were believed to be targeting six high school players going into the day.

They got two, with three-star cornerback Jaelyn Davis-Robinson of Waxahachie, Texas, also signing.

Four others went elsewhere, including Lake Charles College Prep running back Trevonté Citizen, who signed with Miami.

Of the others, the biggest miss was Ponchatoula four-star safety Jacoby Matthews. He was once a Tigers commitment but flipped and signed late Wednesday with Texas A&M. It bolstered an Aggies haul that was ranked in some circles as the best single class in recruiting history.

Of the other LSU targets, wide receiver Caleb Douglas of Missouri City, Texas, signed with Florida and New Iberia tight end Danny Lewis signed with Alabama — one of four Louisiana recruits, all receivers, that Nick Saban ended up with over two signing periods.

Combined with the early period, it left LSU with 27 new players — 15 high school recruits and 12 through the portal.

The website 247Sports.com, which factors transfers into its national rankings, put the Tigers’ overall recruiting class at No. 6.

It also left the Tigers with five spots available for more transfers when the portal figures to get busy again.

That’s due to the NCAA allowing schools to replace up to seven lost transfers above the normal 25-man class.

LSU Class of 2022 Signees

High School

Jaelyn Davis-Robinson CB 5-10/184 Waxahachie, Texas

Speedy player has run 10.5 100 meters … rated four stars by Rivals, three stars by 247Sports.com … as a three-star by ESPN, Rivals.com and 247Sports … had 46 tackles, 6 for loss as a senior.

Harold Perkins OLB 6-2/210 Cypress, Texas (Cy Park)

Considered nation’s top-ranked player available for February signing … consensus five-star recruit was ranked the top LB in the nation the No. 5 overall player by ESPN … also RB in HS … born in New Orleans, family moved to Houston area after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Transfers

Jarrick Bernard CB 6-3/195 Oklahoma St.

Shreveport (Evangel Christian) native … senior … started 47 consecutive games in four years at OSU … 216 tackles, 7 for loss with 5 sacks … broke up 26 passes with 2 interceptions … two-time all-academic Big 12.

Greg Brooks DB 5-11/185 Arkansas

La. native from Harvey (West Jefferson) … senior … started 31 games at Arkansas … 112 career tackles with 5.5 for loss and 4 INTs … career-high 7 tackles vs. Ole Miss and Georgia last year.

Jay Bramblett P 6-2/197 Notre Dame

Tuscaloosa, Ala., native … senior … three-year starer at Notre Dame … career average of 41.6 ypg — 43.1 last year … has 28 punts of 50 yards or longer and 49 downed inside the 20.

Noah Cain RB 5-10/208 Penn St.

Baton Rouge native who played HS at IMG Academy in Florida … junior … played in 24 games at PSU with 7 starts … xareer rushed for 778 yards and 12 TDs; caught 24 passes for 154 yards

Joe Foucha DB 5-11/205 Arkansas

New Orleans (McDonogh 35) native… senior … started 33 of 44 games for Arkansas … 231 tackles, 11.5 for loss and 2 sacks with 5 INTs …SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week for last year’s game vs. Miss. State.

Miles Frazier OL 6-6/311 Fla. International

Camden, N.J., native… sophomore … freshman all-American at Florida International … said he had more than 30 FBS offers after entering NCAA transfer portal … first-team all-Conference USA as freshman.

Meki Garner CB 6-2/217 UL-Lafayette

Mesquite, Texas, native … junior … started 19 games for Louisiana-Lafayette in last two years … third-team all-Sun Belt last year … career 63 tackles, 3.5 for loss, with 3 INTs.

Kyren Lacy WR 6-3/213 UL-Lafayette

Thibodaux (HS) native … Started seven of 25 games at ULL, but led Ragin’ Cajuns with 50 receptions for 688 yards 10 TDs.

Slade Roy LS 6-3/216 E. Carolina

Charlotte, N.C., native … sophomore … was snapper for all 11 games as a true freshman.

Tre-Mond Shorts OL 6-3/216 E. Tennessee St.

Hampton, Ga., native … senior … four-year starter at ETSU … FCS all-Amercan … led team to Southern Conference championship and FCS playoff quarterfinals.

West Weeks LB 6-2/220 Virginia

Watkinsville, Ga., native … sophomore … played in all 11 games with one start as a freshman last year … 31 tackles, 5 pass break-ups, 1 sack and a fumble recovery.

Mehki Wingo DL 6-0/280 Missouri

St. Louis native … sophomore … made all-SEC freshman team last year after playing in 11 games … finished last season with 27 tackles, 2 for loss with 1 sack. Returned INT 40 yards for TD.

December HS Signees

Jordan Allen CB 5-10/184 Lafayette (Lafayette Christian Academy)

Bo Bordelon OL 6-5/269 Raceland (Newman)

Will Campbell OL 6-6/286 Monroe (Neville)

Nathan Dibert PK 5-11/195 Hartland, Mich. (HS)

Tygee Hill DT 6-3/283 New Orleans (Edna Karr)

Walker Howard QB 6-1/183 Lafayette (St. Thomas More)

Landon Ibieta WR 5-11/175 Mandeville (HS)

Emery Jones OL 6-4/330 Baton Rouge (Catholic)

Mason Taylor TE 6-5/230 Fort Lauderdale (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Demario Tolan LB 6-1/211 Orlando (Phillips)

Laterrance Welch CB 6-1/178 Lafayette (Acadiana)

Fitzgerald West OL 6-2/314 Lafayette (LCA)

Quency Wiggins DE 6-6/265 Napaleonville (Madison Prep)

Source: LSU sports information department