http://lsu.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=434735 (need registration) E. J. Skankle, 5-10, 180, 4.4, RB/CB Leonard Hewitt, 5-10, 175, 4.42, S/WR Mandela Roberts, 6-0, 220, 4.58, OLB Shankle and Hewitt both have LSU listed as High and both have offers. Roberts is being actively recruited by LSU but has not been offered. The trio said they are deciding between LSU and TA&M, but LSU is the favorite. They said they plan to visit both schools in the next 2 weeks then will make a decision.
They've recently added Mandela Roberts to the mix but I just don't think he is going to be offered by the same caliber of schools and they will go without him. I believe Shankle and Hewitt are trying to help their buddy out myself but it isn't going to work out.
Would be a nice trio to have, but a tough call on offering an extra scholarship just to get them (if that would be the case). Would each of these guys merit their own scholarship?? I don't know why, but I get the feeling they will end up somewhere else.
I dont know what kind of player Roberts is, but he seems to have the physical attributes that are nice.. good size and speed... a little on the short side for a LB, but a sub 4.6 at 220 is nice to have...
I think you're right. I've read where Roberts has been offered by UTEP--or some school of that caliber. I've also read where he stated he would prefer to join Shankle and Hewitt, but if not, then he'll go his own way. I have to say, with Scott and Murphy both committing today, the odds of Shankle being used as a RB at LSU seems to be slimming down considerable and if he (Shankle) really wants to be an LSU Tiger, he'll have to accept that he'll get TRAMENDOUS competition to see the field as a RB (especially with blue chip RB's RJ Jackson, Scott and Murphy on board--as well as Alley and JV each possibly playing in Baton Rouge for two more seasons), or be perfectly content with being used as a DB--which would probably get him more playing time quicker than he would as a running back. If Shankle doesn't care what position he plays, then I believe he and Hewitt are Baton Rouge bound. But if Shankle prefers to be a RB, then either 1.) they truely stick together and both sign with A&M or 2.) only Hewitt ends up at LSU. Let's home they both still come to Baton Rouge, and that Shankle (listed as an ATH by rivals) realizes his potentional on the defensive side of the ball and looks forward to roaming the secondary with Hewitt.
Alley & JV are Juniors now. By the time Scott & Murphy sign, AB & JV will be in thier Senior year. (If neither leaves for the NFL).
I think both of these guys will play defense in college with LSU if they choose to come here and they pretty much know that. They've been getting a lot of pressure to go to aTm from some locals from what I'm hearing and now aTm is tied with LSU at the top of their list. Personally, we are in the mix for so many great safeties I'm not sure we realize need these guys. The one thing that concerns me is that we will accept the commits from a couple of the mid tier safeties prospects because Mouton(who could be a LB), Allen, Perez, etc will wait till Feb. to announce. That has to be one of the hardest decisions the staff makes. Do you hold out for one in the bush or take home the one in the bag.
Can't say that I recall any other players from Lufkin before.... But, there's rumor that 4-star ATH/Safety Troy Giddeons from Hammond. He was given a verbal offer of scholarship last week following Miles' camp. Giddeons said that today he and his uncle will travel to Baton Rouge to have a sit-down with Miles and talk specifics about the offer and said that if the "verbal scholarship offer" becomes something concrete, the he'll "Probably take it" and commit on the spot. If Giddeons commits, that might put the squeeze on Hewitt--possibly even forcing him to sign with A&M given that we would then have commitments from: Shomari Clemons, 4-star Safety/OLB McCray, 4-star Safety/OLB Giddeons, 4-star ATH/Safety ...all 3 of those guys are capable of playing safety for us, but by no means are any of them "anchored" at either Safety position given their muliple position tags, so on one hand, it could get crowded at the safety position with four, 4-star players....OR, on the other hand, considering that 3 of the possible 4 players have the ability to move over to another position, it might not be as crowded as one would think.... I hope we sign both, Giddeon AND Hewitt to add some SERIOUS depth!
