#3 McFarland DT - LSU, Texas, OU Projected chances: 50 % Comments: I still feel it's between LSU and Texas. He obviously needs to come down with Mom and Grandma and I feel that will seal the deal. Distance means everything, OU is the furthest away and no one else will be considered outside of this top 3. #5 Reuben Randle WR - LSU, Miami, Bama Projected chances: 95 % Comments: I think he is a silent commit at this point. It would take something just short of a miracle to wrestle him away from LSU. Doesn't hurt that Josh Downs is his teammate. Julio Jones is a superstar in the making, and that could be a negative for Bama. #9 Jelani Jenkins OLB - LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Virgina Tech Projected chances: 5 % Comments: A cut above the rest of the other OLBs in this class, this would be a major steal for LSU. This one probably ends up between Maryland and Michigan. Way too early in the recruiting process to know if LSU becomes a major player. #11 Trent Richardson RB - LSU, Bama, Florida, Florida State, Miami Projected Chances: 25 % Comments: I've been hearing anywhere from a Bama lock to an LSU lean, so who knows on this one. LSU and Florida seem to have the inside track on snatching him away from Bama, where he is considered a "soft" verbal. The LSU/Bama outcome may play a small part in swaying his decision. If Bama stays in or near the top 10 the rest of the season, I think this locks Richardson into Bama. #17 William Campbell DT - LSU, Miami, Michigan, USC Projected chances: 15 % Comments: Opened up recruiting again after committing to Michigan. He has not set up any visits to the other schools and plans to enroll early. I believe he honors his prior commitment to Michigan in the end. If he visits LSU then all bets are off. #21 Craig Loston S - LSU, Clemson, Texas A&M, Texas Projected chances: 95 % Comments: He is widely regarded as a silent commit to LSU at this point. Speaks in terms of "we" when referring to LSU in recent conversations with Shepard. Shepard has guaranteed him. #23 Christine Michael RB- LSU, Texas A&M Projected chances: 30 % Comments: LSU has not shown this kid any love and this has perplexed many LSU fans, including myself. He was easily the #1 rated player at the famed FBU Top Gun camp in Florida this year. He'll end up at A&M if LSU fails to offer him. #27 Branden Smith DB - LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, FSU, Clemson, Bama Projected chances: 10 % Comments: He is not sure where he will take his 5 officials. Has no favorite. It could take until NSD for him to decide. My early guess is it comes down to Florida or (his home state) Georgia. Distance is not an issue, however. The biggest problem here is that he projects as a DB and I don't see LSU taking another DB. He may be too good to pass up, however. He blew it up at the LSU camp. #31 Andre Debose WR - LSU, Florida, Florida State, Miami Projected chances: 40 % Comments: Looks like another LSU/Florida battle for a recruit. Lots of people in the know saying LSU has the inside track, others saying he will be hard to pull away from the state of Florida. Florida's lack of quality pure receivers could be an advantage for them (Harvin not included). In the end, he should be a Tiger. #38 Xavier Nixon OT - LSU, Florida, North Carolina Projected chances: 35 % Comments: LSU and Florida are his top 2 with Georgia definitely in the mix. Will take his official for the Georgia game. Let's hope CBS does the right thing and makes this a night game. Look for North Carolina, which is his home state, to be the dark horse in this race. #43 Jarvis Jones OLB - LSU, Florida, Georgia, USC, Texas Projected chances: 30 % Comments: All of a sudden LSU has become a major player for this kid and it appears to be a showdown between, you guessed it, LSU and Florida. USC and Texas are longshots. #45 Patrick Patterson - LSU, Bama, Ole Miss Projected chances: 10 % Comments: Really likes LSU but I don't know if we will ever offer him. Bama seems like the team to take advantage of LSU's unwantedness. #47 DJ Fluker DT - LSU, Bama Projected chances: 10 % Comments: Currently a soft verbal to Bama. Has loved LSU growing up as a kid in New Orleans. In the end, he will stick with is commitment to Bama. Again, LSU's chances increase if he takes in an LSU game (maybe the Bama game, ironically?). #54 Marlon Brown WR - LSU, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee Projected chances: 15 % Comments: Looks like it's down to LSU, Georgia and Florida. He could be a take if we don't get Debose. Hard to tell at this point. Probably won't be a decision we will have to make as I see him going to either Florida or Georgia. Florida has the inside track due to Brown's desire to play basketball as well. #57 Kraig Appleton WR - LSU, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Nebraska Projected chances: 5 % Comments: Appleton does not appear to be a take, which is why LSU's chances of landing are projected so low. It definitely has nothing to do with him not liking LSU. Recent report has him leaning towards Missouri, which comes as a shock to Fighting Illini fans. It should come down to one of those schools in the end. #61 Jon Bostic OLB - LSU, Florida, Miami, FSU, Auburn Projected chances: 35 % Comments: Here goes another LSU/Florida battle. Opinions vary widely as to whether Florida or LSU has the inside track. I think he ends up at Florida in the end. Watch for Auburn as a dark horse, as defense and Auburn are synonymous. #62 Kendrick Hardy RB - LSU, Mississippi St, Ole Miss, Bama, Auburn, Southern Miss, Tulane Projected chances: 10 % Comments: LSU has risen up his list just recently, but I think he stays in-state with any one of the Mississippi schools. If we don't offer Michael, I can't see us offering Hardy. Don't sleep on Tulane. The NFL success of Matt Forte has to be a plus for them at this point. #68 Marcus Hall OT - LSU, Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Miami Projected chances: 15 % Comments: LSU has recently come on his radar over the past couple of months. Ohio being the home state, I am fairly certain he picks Ohio State. He will take all 5 officials, so we shall see where things proceed. #70 Kevin Brent S - LSU, OU, Miami, Missouri, Texas Tech, USC Projected chances: 25 % Comments: Most reports say OU lean, some say heavy lean. LSU is still in it, make no doubt about it. LSU is leaning towards taking 2 safeties and Brent would be a take if that is the case. #73 Eddie Lacy RB - LSU, Bama, FSU, Southern Miss, Ole Miss Priojected chances: 10 % Comments: He is all LSU if they offer him. Grades of course have been the issue all along. Eddie Lacy will be this year's DeAndre Brown and qualify to play for Southern Miss, amid those quirky rules that allow him to do so. There is a remote chance LSU takes him on as a greyshirt. #75 Orson Charles TE - LSU, Florida, FSU, Miami, SFU, Georgia Projected chances: 15 % Comments: Another LSU vs the entire state of Florida battle it seems, although Georgia may have the inside track on this one. This would be quite a coup if the LSU staff can pull this one off. LSU is in need of a big time tight end to replace Dickson, and this kid fits the bill nicely. I project him to follow teammate Aaron Murray to Georgia. #76 Sam Montgomery DE - LSU, USC, Michigan, Miami, Clemson, South Carolina Projected chances: 10 % Comments: Looks to be a four team race between LSU, USC, Michigan and possibly Miami. Miami has not shown him much love, so not sure if they will factor into it. I have him going to USC or Michigan. #78 John Martinez C - LSU, USC, UCLA, Ohio State, BYU Projected chances: 5 % Comments: It's a USC/UCLA battle at this point with LSU coming in fourth place just behind Ohio State. I would be a bit shocked if he doesn't choose USC. #81 Darren Myles S - LSU, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Bama, USCw, Georgia Projected chances: 35 % Comments: A kid from New Orleans, LSU has always been a favorite team of his and still is to this day. Georgia Tech is putting on a full court press and should be a major player in the end. USC is on the outside looking in at this point. LSU stands a decent chance at nabbing him as our 2nd safety in this class. Distance is not an issue. He prefers to play safety over DB in college, which favors LSU's recruitment of him. #83 DeVonte Holloman S - LSU, Clemson, Michigan, Tennessee Projected chances: 25 % Comments: Currently a "soft" verbal to Clemson, he has just recently reopened his recruiting process. With Loston in LSU's hip pocket, it appears LSU is a major player for Holloman at this point since they are best of friends. He will be visiting for the LSU/Georgia game. It appears as though this may come down to LSU and Clemson. #91 Lamar Miller RB - LSU, Miami, Florida, FSU, UCF, Clemson, West Virginia, Rutgers Projected chances: 5 % Comments: He has not listed a leader, although most would say he ends up staying in Florida, and likely Miami. A clear long shot for LSU, and even if LSU had a shot, he probably isn't a take. #93 Craig Drummond DE - LSU, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio State, USC, Bame, Tennessee, Florida, Miami Projected chances: 10 % Comments: Illinois appears to be the team to beat (his home state), with Wisconsin making a huge push. He does not list a favorite, however. #98 Ray Ray Armstrong S - LSU, Florida, Miami, Florida State, USF Projected chances: 20 % Comments: LSU versus the state of Florida for the umpteenth time. Part of the "Seminole Trio" along with Debose and Dye. #111 Kendall Kelley WR - LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Texas, USC and Oregon Projected chances: 5 % Comments: Will narrow his list down considerably and in the near future. This is probably a backup option for LSU, and even then I am not sure if he is a take. #124 Xavier Su'a Filo OT - LSU, BYU, USC, Miami, Stanford Projected chances: 50 % Comments: LSU stands a very good chance to land this big guy. He will attend the LSU/Bama game. BYU and USC pose our biggest and possibly only threats. There is a decent chance he takes his mormon mission. Distance is not an issue. He definitely wants to go to a winning program. BYU's success this season bodes well for them in his recruitment. Look for Miami to possibly make a push for his services as well. At this point, it's a 3 team race. #149 Chad Bumphis WR - LSU, Florida, Bama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi St Projected chances: 5 % Comments: Currently favors Florida and Bama. Look for Ole Miss to make a serious push for his services. Mississippi State may also play a part in the end. LSU probably does not list this kid as a take. #162 Lamin Barrow MLB - LSU, Ole Miss, Kansas State, La Tech Projected chances: 5 % Comments: If Willie Farrell does indeed decommit (which there is nothing concrete about this actually happening), then possibly that opens the door for LSU to consider Barrow at MLB. Appears to be between Ole Miss and Kansas State with La Tech a major player as well. #171 Dyron Dye DE - LSU, Florida, Miami, FSU, UCF, USF, USC Projected chances: 25 % Comments: LSU has somewhat of a shot at landing this "man among boys". It will be difficult to pull him from the state of Florida, however. #174 Bar' Kevious Mingo OLB - LSU, Miami Projected chances: 95 % Comments: Appears to be a silent commit at this point. Miami appears to be the only other team that could possibly enter the picture. #209 Darrington Sentimore DE - LSU, Bama Projected chances: 35 % Comments: Everyone has knows the story on this one. If LSU loves what they see about Sentimore being able to play DE, then LSU offers and Sentimore most likely accepts. Bama has become a major player as of late, as Sentimore gets more and more impatient with LSU. This one could drag out a while. NR Chris Williams OLB - LSU, Nebraska, Missouri, Oregon, Texas A&M Projected chances: 35 % Comments: Just barely outside the rivals top250, ranked as 13th best MLB, although LSU could be recruiting him as an OLB. A Willie Ferrell decommit (which is not likely as of now) would obviously vault Williams up the ladder as he appears to be someone who could play inside or outside. Nebraska is a big player for his services now. NR Ed Stinson DE - LSU, Florida State, Bama Projected chances: 30 % Comments: Another player that is just outside the rivals250, ranked 12th best WDE. Currently a "soft" verbal to FSU, Stinson is definitely looking at his other 2 options in LSU and Bama. LSU could snag this one before it's all said and done. LSU would like another DE and if Sentimore doesn't pan out, then this might be the guy. NR Dominique Allen FB - LSU, Tennessee Projected chances: 10 % Comments: Once considered a "soft" verbal to Tennessee, he has since reaffirmed his commitment. LSU is trying to get him to take an official and that may happen. NR Toben Opurum FB - LSU, Kansas, Purdue, Florida, Arkansas Projected chances: 15 % Comments: He has no favorites at this time. Listed at 6'2" 229 lbs, he is not the prototypical FB and more a hybrid RB/FB. He has tentatively scheduled LSU, Kansas, Purdue, Florida and Arkansas as his 5 officials. The big question here is whether Opurum would agree to play FB in college. FB Alex Singleton FB - Tulsa, LSU Projected chances: 10 % Comments: Recently committed to Tulsa, but LSU is still putting on the full court press for his services. The kid wants to play RB and will most likely stick with his Tulsa commit. NR Richard Wilson TE - LSU, BYU, Stanford, Miami Projected chances: 30 % Comments: He will be taking his official for LSU/Georgia. Will make his decision by early November. He is basing his decision on the depth chart and the utilization of the TE position in the respective team's offense. That favors LSU big time. This probably comes down to LSU and BYU, with Stanford having an outside shot. NR Jonathan Scott S - LSU, Bama, South Carolina, Ole Miss Projected chances: 25 % Comments: Right now it's a 3 team race but Ole Miss might enter the picture soon. His brother recently transferred to Ole Miss. I look for him to select Bama. Now, let's put this list to good use, shall we?: LSU remaining wish list (my projections underlined): QB (0) - NA RB (0/1) - #11 Richardson, #23 Michael, #62 Hardy, #73 Lacy, #91 Miller FB (0/1) - NR Allen, NR Opurum, NR Singleton WR (1/2) - #5 Randle, #31 Debose, #45 Patterson, #54 Brown, #57 Appleton, #111 Kelley, #149 Bumphis TE (0/1) - #75 Charles, NR Wilson OL (0/1) - #38 Nixon, #68 Hall, #78 Martinez, #124 Su'a Filo DL (1/2) - #2 McFarland, #17 Campbell, #47 Fluker, #76 Montgomery, #93 Drummond, #171 Dye, #209 Sentimore, NR Stinson LB (1/2) - #9 Jenkins, #43 Jones, #61 Bostic, #162 Barrow, #174 Mingo, NR Williams DB(1/2) - #21 Loston, #27 Smith, #70 Brent, #81 Myles, #83 Holloman, #98 Armstrong, NR Scott That gives LSU 25 commitments. The 26th will be a semi-surprise wildcard, either Nixon, Charles, Jones, Bostic, Dye or Stinson (OL, DE, or OLB most likely). Sentimore would be the other likely candidate. If LSU doesn't offer Michael, then LSU could possibly pick up both Sentimore and one more from that list of wildcards. A possible decommit with either Wooten or Farrell. I really hope not on Wooten. If LSU gets 2 LBs, which is very possible, Farrell could reconsider and go elsewhere or it could very well be due to grades. So, bottom line, the number I am looking at is most likely 26. Great chance/Near Locks: Loston Randle Mingo Good chance: McFarland Debose Myles Su'a Filo In the mix: Sentimore Michael Stinson Jones Bostic Williams Holloman Nixon Richardson Wilson Patterson
Great list. I worry about Randle sometimes, even though I have no info to make me do that. I think what intrigues him (according to his bro) is being opposite of Julio, so no one can double either of them (in theory). Mainly Miami worries me -- once again I have no idea why.
I have a habit of saving my post before I lose it, especially if it's a long one like this one, so I wasn't nearly finished when you took a gander at the early listing. Agreed, Holloman is a major player right now.
I agree about your assessment of Bama. In the same vain that it can hurt Bama to have Julio, it may have the exact opposite effect. You can't double both so someone is gonna have a big game on any given Saturday.
I really hope we can get Jon Bostic and Jarvis Jones, the two Linebackers. We need LBs in the worst way.
I would have to agree with this. I think we hit it big with Baker last year. We need to keep it going. Our linebackers aren't as important to our defense as DBs/Safeties since we do a lot of nickel and dime, but it would be nice to get a couple of stud LBs.
