Let's get some thoughts on this: of all the recruits out there who are giving LSU some love, who do you think is or should be the #1 priority. Consider all the factors: 1) How good the player is or you believe will be; 2) Relative need LSU has for a player of the position; 3) Potential alternative destination; 4) Other alternative recruits that LSU could get if we lose out on him; 5) His impact on future recruits if we get him. All things considered, I think Julio Jones has to be the #1 recruit on the board. Reasons for: 1) He's the best player in the country at his position. If you don't believe me, just compare the YouTube and Rivals videos of him to others. 2) We'd be taking him from Bama, his most likely destination, which would accomplish the dual purpose of a) beating Bama in head-to-head competition, and b) showing Tuscaloosa, Mobile, and the world that we can still recruit Mobile even with Saban at Bama. 3) It would set us up very nicely to recruit A.J. McCarron and/or D.J. Fluker next year, along with other Mobile recruits. The reasons against: 1) We have plenty of other quality WR recruits out there to choose (but none quite as good as Jones), and 2) WR is a strength of the current roster and a strength of last year's class, meaning it isn't a tremendous need, unlike QB. But there are no really outstanding QBs we're in on at the moment. Before Manuel's commit to FSU, I would have said Manuel, but now I'm saying Jones. Honorable Mention: 1) TJ Bryant, outstanding corner, which is a position of need. 2) Antoine McClain, very good OL who could be taken right out of the mouth of the Alabama schools. 3) Darrell Scott, running back for whom we appear to be in competition with Florida.
hands down Scott, or Julius Jones, Deion Walker....Scott and Walker more realistic commits. Scott will be special.
Eh... First of all, the coaches don't look at it as having one board. There is a board for every position. So, there really is no #1 recruit on the board, only a #1 recruit at each position. But for the sake of entertainment we can discuss it. Personally, I would say Scott. We're in on too many good WR's & already w/ some young talent there for me to say Jones, even though it sure would be nice to steal him from Nick. Scott is by far the #1 RB on our boards (rumor suggest we aren't accepting a commitment from Kye until we see how things play out with Scott), we need to take one in this class (we won't go 2 years straight without a RB recruit), and UF is a very possible destination for him if we don't get him.
This is how I see our board right now. We either lead or are in good position with players in bold. QB 1. DC Jefferson 2. Robert Griffin 3. Darron Thomas 4. Tyler Wilson 5. Jack Elway RB 1. Darrell Scott 2. Kye Staley 3. Jerico Nelson 4. Desmond Johnson 5. Alonzo Landry WR 1. Julio Jones 2. Corey Surrency (reminds me of Rashad Mason, only faster) 3. DeAndre Brown (yes i have him above walker) 4. Deion Walker 5. Chris Tolliver 6. Melvin Ray 7. Josh Jarboe 8. LaRon Byrd OL 1. Matt Patchan 2. JB Shugarts (rumors of a soft commitment) 3. Antoine McClain 4. Cedric Mack 5. Dallas Thomas DL 1. Chancey Aghereye 2. William Green 3. Justin Thompson (soft commit to UM, will visit) 4. Chase Clement 5. Glenn Harbin 6. Benjamin Jones 7. Chris Martin 8. Chase Thomas LB 1. Brandon Beal 2. Jerrell Harris 3. Taylor Hill 4. Kyle Prater S 1. Karnell Hatcher 2. Kye Staley (yes I know I listed him twice) 3. Jerico Nelson (same) 4. Travis Arnold CB 1. TJ Bryant 2. Robby Green 3. Derrick Bryant 4. Prentiss Waggner 5. Treyvias Alexander
I wouldn't think Julio is # 1 due to the young talent we have at WR. Fluker may end up here, but McCarron is a stretch at best. I agree about McClain, though. He would be a huge steal and really help our OL. Hard to beat getting a top OL dude.
You're forgetting DC Jefferson, who some say is #1 on our board, and is a likely imminent commitment. I think if we take two, it'll be him and Darron Thomas. Reading between the lines, I think Darrell Scott is ours to lose at this point. I don't have a direct source, but when I read the premium message boards, I just get a sense that a) we're in better shape for national recruits than is generally acknowledged, and b) we're slow-playing a LOT of running backs who would be good pickups for one reason or another. I think those two things add up to LSU feeling really good about their chances with Scott. I agree that Jones is unlikely, but I'm questioning the whole DeAndre Brown thing. I understand he has a LONG way to go to get qualified. I think we'd love to have him, and that we will take him, but that his academic issues kind of muddy the waters. I think we take 1-2 more OLs as well, and I'm not buying the Shugarts rumor. I also think that McClain is a longshot at best. Patchan?? I've got a gut feeling about him not being as much a Canes lock as people think. I keep waiting for something to break on DL. I know nothing other than that Clement is probably a safe bet. The Chris Martin thing is intriguing. He's apparently not the only guy who thought he had a committable offer when he apparently didn't. Brendan Beal. A real dark-horse guy who I think we may, just may, have a real shot at. We may not take another linebacker at all, but if we do it'll have to be someone really good like him. I think if Staley wants to play safety we take him. Also, put Jericho Nelson in this category. I don't get the impression we want P.J. Smith very much. [/quote] Very hard to read this position. I think the staff likes its chances with TJ Bryant, and I don't get a good feeling about Green. I think he heads out of state.
Thanks for the reply. I adjusted my list accordingly. I put Brandon Beal on there at #1, as he is better than the prospects I had listed, and I just completely forgot about DC. Personally I doubt we get Scott, Jones, Bryant, and Aghereye, but you never know. If Brown can qualify we will probably get two five star receivers here. Surrency will probably switch to us at the Florida game.
As far as I know, DC is only speculated as being #1 on our board because he is rated higher than the other prospects. I don't think inside connections have pointed to that. I find Thomas intriguing. If we feel like we won't get a top-flight QB in this class but could get one or two next year, then Thomas would work perfect as he could be moved to WR very easily. We definitely think we have a good shot, but we also felt that way with Manuel so there's just no telling. Laron Byrd is supposed to be pretty good, but with very questionable grades. I think we take Brown regardless, but it makes things interesting with other prospects... Martin seems to think that his offer is committable, but he hasn't spoken with Miles yet. Martin said he expects Miles to welcome the commitment. I've gotten the impression that both he & Robby Green are more highly thought of by fans & the services than the coaching staff.
Brendan Beal isn't going to happen IMO. And I believe Parso is right on in saying that Green is more impressive to people who aren't doing the coaching.
