I want to get different opinions on positions, success or failure, and impact that these recruits will have. I guess I will start it off. Drayton Calhoun ATH-Speed guy, I think he is a little undersized to play CB, so I believe he will returns punts and kicks, play slot WR and even some running back. If he builds muscle and adds weigh to his frame the sky is the limit for this guy. Kevin Minter LB-Big MLB with 4.6 Speed, crucial to our success the next few years, I dont think he redshirts, he will see alot of time next year on Special teams and 2nd string MLB behind R. Baker Russell Shepard QB-A little undersized as far as weight, but that will work itself out. Skys the limit, with 4.4 speed, he needs to improve as a passer, but I think he will do so. Probably plays some QB and WR next season. Leadership quality will bring him alot of success. Chris Garrett QB-Will push alot of playing time 2 years down the road, pocket passer with a huge arm. I think he will be good for us. Derek Helton P -Dont know much about this guy, juco player so he needs to make an immediate impact. Michael Ford RB-one of the sleepers of the class, this guy could rewrite some records for LSU. Size, speed, and vision. Lamin Barrow LB-Utility LB, probably will play inside and out in our scheme, I look for the Chief to make him a special LB. Stavion Lowe OL-Probably moves to OG. Has to put on weight and muscle, could be starting next year after a redshirt. Josh Williford OL-Needs a redshirt, huge guy, probably starts in 2 years. Great run blocker. Michael Brockers DE-Strong side DE, with his size at 6-6 260lbs, could put on weight to play OT. His strength and altheticism is off the charts, skys the limit for this guy. Chris Faulk OL-Probably doesnt redshirt and pushes for 2nd String OT. He could be All-SEC Barkevious Mingo LB-definitely will redshirt, 1 year from now could play OLB or Weakside DE. altheticism is off the chart, could be an All-American Tahj Jones LB -Dont know much about this guy, but look for the Chief to make something out of him. Sam Montgomery DE-just raw talent and altheticism describes this guy. Dont know if he redshirts, probably will play special teams next year just because of his speed and size. Carneal Ainsworth OL-Big guy with great feet, pushes for playing time after a redshirt. Josh Downs DT-he probably needs a redshirt, but has the best motor of this class. After Moffit gets done with him, he will be All-SEC I believe. Craig Loston DB-Superstar in the making imo. Will play next season, is a mean SOB with all the talent in the world. Dominique Allen FB-Probably will start at FB next season, just a beast of a football player with leadership qualities. Bennie Logan DE -Will redshirt, but his quickness at his size is what got him the offer. Chris Davenport DT-I dont know if he redshirts or not with his injury, but at 6'4 311lbs, this guy has the size and strenght to plug up the middle for years to come. Akiem Hicks DT-juco player, who could play Strongside DE or DT.I think he pushes for playing time this season and will make a difference on the DL. Morris Claiborne ATH- probably redshirts and plays DB or some WR. Has great speed and is smooth as silk. I think he is another sleeper. Josh Johns S-Could bulk up and move to linebacker after a redshirt. Guy has a mean streak after I watch his film, I wasnt sold on him for a while, but boy can he hit. Reuben Randle WR-Has everything it takes to be an Freshman All-American, will play alot next season and make a big impact if everything falls in place. Expecting LOI: Janzen Jackson DB-I will update after he signs.
OK, I don't study up on these guys the way some people do, just check out the vital stats and the star ratings, then sit back and watch. So my only question about your breakdown is...why is Mingo a definite redshirt?
I think only 4 or 5 play next year. Shep: He will obviously play but he is small and I wonder how tall he really is. At the UA game there are pictures of him standing next to guys listed as 6' and he looked the same height. When he was in the pocket you could barely see him. Of course his speed and talent can get him out of a world of trouble but SEC linebackers will be a whole new world for him so it will be interesting to see how he responds. The other X factor with Shep is how Jefferson comes along. If Jefferson continues to improve it will limit Shep's snaps from the QB spot. Jefferson is a huge guy with a strong arm. Two things Shep cant match him on. It will be exciting no doubt. Loston: I dont see how this head hunter doesnt play and play frequently. Of course he could come in during fall camp and not look near as good in practice against our receivers but he has a nasty streak thats obvious. I really like this kid and think he is the best player in our class. Ford: I believe he'll play and may even unseat Keiland for 2nd string. I know Murphy will have something to say about that but at the very least I think he gets into the 3 back rotation. Someone is going to be left on the outside looking in at the RB spot. Montgomery: I believe he plays also. He's the perfect speed/rush end and could get snaps on passing downs next year. You cant really call him a sleeper but he was a surprise and I think he is one of the top 2 or 3 players we signed this year. I look for him to have long term impact.
I think we will potentially have issues in the future with only 1 RB recruiting in the past 2 years. That will be an issue we will need to address in the 2010 class. Seastrunk should now be a slam dunk. Allen at FB was a tremendous get and will potentially be a Jerome Bettis type FB/RB. Shepard and Garrett are great gets at QB. We will be fine at the position for the years to come. Shepard will see the field from game 1 and be an impact player. We lost out on depth at the wide receiver position, but got the one we ultimately wanted in Randle, who will also see the field from game 1. Calhoun appears to project to slot receiver, a position of great need for LSU. Next year we will need to get 3 more receivers. Trevon Reed has to view LSU as that much more desirable now, which bodes well for Seastrunk, as they want to play together at the same school. I think we did fantastic in the trenches. Both sides of the ball. Ainsworth is being projected to Center by Les Miles (said it at the Bash), Lowe and Faulk at tackles, and Williford at guard. Defensive line haul best on paper we have ever recruited in our history. Three outstanding edge rushers in Montgomery, Brockers and Logan. And I believe Logan potentially is the best of the bunch. Add in Hicks to give us experienced depth at either spot DT/DE as well as Davenport and Downs holding down the middle for the foreseeable future. Minter solves our MLB problem, it is yet to be seen if we solved our OLB depth. I think Tahj Jones is the sleeper and will be a dominate OLB in the SEC. Put it this way, if Tahj Jones had his grades in line from the outset, he would have likely been in the Rivals top 250. Loston and Johns certainly solve our safety spots. Is Johns the next Steltz? Jackson is another lockdown corner, vital to what Chavis and Co. want to do on defense, which is be aggressive and blitz the qb. Overall, we solved essentially every position of need except TE. We need to bring in a couple in 2010 as it stands now.
I didnt mention Randle playing because I didnt want to be captain obvious but Im sure his dad worked it all out in contract negotiations. :hihi:
Here's my 2 cents, graded by position: QB - A: I'm not so sure Sheppard plays QB in college, but Garrett will be a good passer when it's his turn. Shep's leadership abilities are off the charts. RB - B+: Ford is a stud; would have liked 1 more RB, but Scout has the 1 we got listed as a 5 star player. FB - B: Allen should get lots of playing time and will do well for us. WR - A-: Randle is a good one; depth could come from Claiborne, Calhoun (think he plays CB) or Shep. TE - N/A: Wasn't a need. We signed 2 last year. OL - A: Faulk, Lowe and Ainsworth should all be starters in 2 years; Williford is a project, but he's 6'7 and 340 pounds. DL - A+: Best group of this class; Davenport, Downs, and Hicks inside and Montgomery, Brockers and Logan on the outside. This group will dominate in the years to come. LB - B+: We signed 4 solid kids here. Minter may help out immediately. Mingo could end up at DE, and there's no denying the athleticism of TJones. Barrow may contribute as well. CB - D: I really don't know what to do here. Calhoun? Duplessis? We lost the one we wanted/needed. S - A: Can't wait to see Loston hit someone. Johns may contribute in a few years. K/P - B: Helton is supposed to be a really good punter. Overall Grade- A+: We did great on both lines, added 4 LB, and brought in some serious skill-position guys in Shep, Loston, Randle and Ford. This class lost a 5-star CB, and a 4-star WR and still finished #2. WOW! Way to go coaches!!! :crystal::geaux::crystal::geaux::crystal:
In my thread comparing classes, I project 4 starter/big contributors next year, with 14 more to come & eventually 7 high draft picks. I agree with your assessments on all of the players individually.
Agreed. We've taken several the past few years, but I haven't heard anything about them since they've gotten on campus. I don't think we have anyone to replace Richard Dickson. This was just a terrible year for TE's. We'll take one or two next year.
