It looks like we will only get one LB this year--Steven Ridley. I know Shomari Clemons will probably resign with us, but will he play strong safety or linebacker? I guess we aren't worried about the numbers at LB since we only lose Spadoni to graduation. However, next year we lose Sanders and Highsmith. In addition, Beckwith is so good I pray he won't turn pro. That would be a nightmare scenario, losing all 3 starters.
Unless Beckwith really improves I dont see him leaving early. He is a very good LB though and will be big time if he can stay healthy. Im sure next year LSU will really target LBs. We certainly will need some. Cutrera and Riley from last years class played well with limited time. I think Riley could be a started, he looks very quick. Im not sure Cutrera has the pure athleticism to be an every down starter. Last year we also picked up Odem, who was a big 4 star recruit. If he continues to fill out and plays to projected expectations he could get PT this coming year. I believe the coaches are expecting Clemons to be a LB. I know when being recruited there was talk of Scott moving to LB because he lacks break away speed. With Williams emergence, that may be an option. Plus if we get McKnight, can help offset Scott moving to LB. Jones may turn into a LB if he signs. He could outgrow the S position, already has LB size.
Ridley is listed as a LB but is also a great running back and Miles has told Ridley that the coaching staff would let him try his hand at RB (with a redshirt obviously). So actually, I don't believe we'll even have a LB in ths class. And I think that's ok because we're not losing any. Highsmith and Sanders will be Sr's. Beckwidth will be a Jr. Cutrera and Riley will be true-Soph's Sheppard will be a a RS-Freshman Then we also have "tweenter's" with Gidden and possibly Shomari Clemons (who signed last year but is now qualified and is expected to re-sign) that could both play either OLB or SS.
You lost me on "Jones may turn into a LB if he signs". Did you mean Clemons, or is there someone we are recruiting named Jones? I forgot about Scott playing LB. I remember people talking about Antonio Robinson playing LB before he left, although I think Scott has a lot more talent at RB than Robinson. I think people automatically think of Scott as a replacement for Alley Broussard in the mold of a big back, but Keiland is probably just about as powerfull a runner as Scott. One reason is Keiland runs in a tucked position instead of upright like so many other backs. However if Keiland gets injured then you don't have a power back after Alley leaves in a year. In addition, I wonder if they would ever consider using Scott as a fullback after Hester leaves. I think Scott is too talented a football player not to utilize in some capacity even if we get McKnight, whether on offense or defense. I hope he doesn't get discouraged and transfer because I really think Keiland should be getting the vast majority of the rushes next year with Broussard getting some carries if he returns to his old form. Scott will be the odd man out with the versatile Hester being used often also, especially in passing situations.
He was talking about Chad Jones--blue chip safety from Southern Lab who's football future depends on where he gets drafted in the MLB draft. He's also considering USC along with LSU. He wants to play both football and baseball in college if he doesn't get drafted high enough. Personally, if we land Jones, moving him to LB would be a mistake considering that he could be the replacement for LaRon in the secondary.
If we don't get McKnight we won't have a RB in this class. So I guess that is an option also, but since Ridley is reported to run a 4.6 and is not extremely large I just can't get excited about him playing RB. I haven't seen Ridley play but I have difficulty believing he could be as good as McKnight. I have seen McKnight play and he is very good.
I didn't know Chad Jones was even a consideration at LB, although I know he certainly has good size. I had heard like you that he was a SS in the mold of Landry. I have to believe we will get Jones based on everything I have heard on this board and others. I will be extremely dissapointed if we don't get this 5 star player.
LSU took 4 LBs last year, plus clemons... 1 the year before that... also, there is R.J. Jackson, Steven Korte, and Charles Scott who could make the move to LB... However... I see LB as the last position at which LSU has failed to get elite prospects... I would really like to see LSU strongly persue some top LB prospects...
You obviously haven't seen his recruiting clips from rivals.com then. I guess you don't think Charles Scott or Keiland Williams aren't large enough for the RB position because both of them were listed at 215 lbs their Sr. years of high school. Ridley is listed at 211 lbs. Scott sure seemed fast enough earlier in the year on some of his 30-yard runs, and coming out of high school, Scott was timed at 4.66 in the forty. Ridley is a 4.60. Lots of similarities between Ridley and Scott. As for not having a recruited that's listed specifically as a RB in this class...well, I'm not particularly worried about that. Our RB core for '07 will be: Alley Broussard RS-Sr. Keiland Williams Soph. Chad Scott RS-Fresh (they are trying to get hm a medical redshirt because of an ankle injury at half time) RJ Jackson RS-Fresh (he received a medical redshirt this season as well) Richard Murphy, RS-Fresh Steven Ridley, redshirt '07 and then, possibly Joe McKnight who wiould likely play as a true freshman in the same capacity that the Saints use Reggie Bush--both in the slot and lined up in the backfield.
We got Derrick Odom last year and he was one of those top LB prospects you were talking about. The style that we use, it's hard to find a "top LB prospect" because teams like LSU, FSU and Texas typically like their OLB'ers to be in the 4.5-4.6 forty range. Those types don't exactly come out of highschool weighing 225+ lbs. They're usually weight trained to get up in size once they get here.
