LSU is recruiting lights out...

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Good morning, Tiger Fans,

As I do on most Friday mornings, yesterday I made it out to the coffee shop to talk LSU sports with a group of friends, and naturally the hot topic of discussion was recruiting. The general consensus among the group was that this LSU class is absolutely loaded at several key positions and should finished highly ranked, but in order for it to really meet team needs in every regard the Tigers desperately need to add at least one more defensive end and linebacker, and another quarterback would be nice, too.

As for the defensive end position, things are looking up since LSU target Arden Key cancelled his visit to Auburn yesterday after meeting with Coaches Miles and Orgeron. Key is expected to make his announcement Monday evening and I like where LSU stands. Also, two other big-time defensive end prospects are still in play for LSU in CeCe Jefferson (visiting LSU this weekend), and Prince Tega Wanogho, although Wanogho’s decision will likely come well after Signing Day. At this point, I feel very confident about LSU landing at least one of those three, and that will put LSU in good shape at the position.

As for the quarterback position, LSU made an in-home visit with Ohio State commit Torrence Gibson and it was said to have gone very well. I would love to see LSU flip Gibson, and I think the chances are good, but if they don’t it won’t be the end of the world. LSU already had one elite QB commit for 2016 (Feliepe Franks) and is hot on the trail of another, Louisiana’s own Shea Patterson of Calvary Baptist who will be very highly rated on my list of Top Louisiana Football Prospects for 2016.

The linebacker position is the one that gives me most concern in this year’s class, as LSU currently has no LB commitments. As one of our group members astutely pointed out, LSU will be okay at linebacker this season, but without any linebackers in this year’s class the Tigers could find themselves very thin at the position when they open the 2016 season in Lambeau Field against a run-heavy Wisconsin team, especially if Kendell Beckwith bypasses his senior year for the draft. As for who might fill the need at linebacker in this year’s signing class, LSU’s top target is Leo Lewis and things are looking up for him as well. Ole Miss was unsuccessful in deterring him from visiting LSU, and late last night news broke that Lewis actually de-committed from Ole Miss. That is certainly great news for the Tigers!

Along with Jefferson and Lewis, LSU is hosting four other prospects this weekend. They include WR Brandon Martin, TE Foster Moreau, S Justin Reid, and a new target whose name surfaced yesterday, punter Josh Growden. Hailing from Australia, Growden could give keep LSU’s Aussi pipeline of punters alive and well for years to come. One prospect who did not make it in to Baton Rouge for this weekend’s visit is safety Jamal Peters (Miss State commitment), but that doesn’t come as a shock. Peters was a long-shot at best, and I would be very pleased to see LSU meet its safety needs by extending an offer to Justin Reid, the brother of former Tiger great Eric Reid.
The bottom line: Things are looking very good for LSU to once again finish very strong in recruiting. As one of my readers put it, “I’ve learned that Miles always finishes strong, but his recruiting is very similar to his games - Rolaids moment!  He should actually be a sponsor for them.”

Before moving on to other topics, it’s time for me to continue revealing our list of Top Louisiana Prospects for 2016 by posting numbers 21-30. 

21. Cameron Lewis (ATH), 6'2", 190, Wossman
22. Tre Turner (RB), 5'10", 187, Holy Cross
23. Willie Baker (DE), 6'4", 225, Livonia
24. Tre Regas (RB), 5'11", 200, Archbishop Shaw
25. Cole Kelly (QB), 6'7", 230, Teurlings Catholic of Lafayette
26. Collin Fountain (OL), 6'3", 335, Barbe
27. Clifford Chattman (S), 6'4", 175, McDonogh 35
28. Andre Anthony (DE), 6'3", 215, Miller-McCoy
29. Joshua Perry (S), 6'2", 185, Amite
30. Jon Randall Belton (QB), 6'3", 200, West Monroe

Click here to view the entire list-in-progress, which now contains numbers 21-60.
In other football related news, contracts for LSU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, as well as four other assistants, were approved yesterday by the Board of Supervisors. As stated in this article by nola.com, Steel and Orgeron each got two-year deals. Steele will make $1 million per year while Orgeron will make $445,000 in his first season and $450,000 in his second. For more info on all the contract agreements, including salaries for Cam Cameron, Adam Henry, Corey Raymond, Steve Ensminger, Jeff Grimes and Bradley Dale Peveto, see the article referenced above.