Predicting a division of 25 scholarships for Class of 2014

For the sake of generating some discussion, below is guess at how the 2014 Class may look if 25 student athletes sign LOI. Current commits are in red font.


7 DBs: 1) Hardeman, 2) Voorhies, 3) Paris, 4) Tony Brown, 5) L. Jones, 6) John Battle, and 7) C. J. Chark. Chark, like Rickey Jefferson in 2013 (and others before him), will likely switch from WR to DB).
2 LBs: 8) Donnie Alexander (OLB) and 9) Clifton Garrett (ILB). Kenny Young is not considered "needed" with the anticipated depth chart.
4 DL: 10) Clark (true DE), 11) Godchaux (probable DT), 12) Willis (probable DT), and 13) Garrald McDowell (probable DT).
3 OL: 14) Brumfield, 15) Clapp, 16) Cameron Robinson
6 WR: 17) D. Williams, 18) Upchurch, 19) Dupre, 20) Noil, 21) Quinn, and 22) Blacknall.
1 TE: 23) J. Washington.Clay Moffitt could be a walk-on who might play TE. William Upchurch might get some snaps alternately as WR, TE, and RB. Jake Franklin has been discussed in TigerFan as a preferred walk on at TE.
1 RB: 24) Leonard Fournette. Other players on the team, like Jeryl Brazil, Speedy Noil, Diarse, and Upchurch might become the new "committee" to get 3-5 or 5-10 carries per game.
1 QB: 25) Brandon Harris

 

At this point I don't think Cam Robinson is anywhere near a safe bet. And I sure would like to see one more RB in this class...preferably Darrel Williams from John Ehret. He might be a redshirt candidate, and that's ok, but his measurables are impressive. And while he doesn't quite have the punch of Fournette, if you remove Fournette from the equation, Williams is the top RB in the state.

Interesting thing about this class, as epic of a year as it could be with Louisiana having so many top rated prospects (Fournette, Robinson, Washington, Quinn, Noil, Hootie Jones, Cameron Sims at Quachita, Brumfield, etc.), it could be equally disastrous if Saban pulls the coup he's trying to pull. Saban wants a stranglehold on La. recruiting in the worst way. My guy thinks Fournette, Quinn, Jones, and Noil will probably commit in state although Jones is more on the fence. Cameron Sims is out and Robinson is going to be a difficult pull just based on respective depth charts. The season might tell the tale with him.

You shouldn't lose your in-state guys under any circumstances, but even if you do truly lose the ones you want, you can't continuously lose them to Bama. Thus far I think Collins was the only real loss. Maybe Bradley Sylve to a degree but that's wasn't major. Lacy wasn't a true loss. Neither was Devall since it was clear he didn't fit our scheme at LB. His family will try to say LSU didn't recruit him but that's not true. He had his mind made up he was playing LB in college so that scheme was better for him. You'd have to go back to Luther Davis to recall a situation where Saban "took" someone LSU really wanted. So the fence is still up, but this year could be major for the future aspirations of both schools.

 

I just don't see it as that big of a deal. Sims will go but we have between 3-5 WR recruits that we'll pull that are better. Robinson will be a big loss but it happens when you have fertile grounds. We have protected our state. Getting 90% of the guys we want in state is pretty good. Also, we go to Alabama too. We got Kwon Alexander who Alabama wanted in 2012. Alabama is a good football team and recruits are attracted to that, but as far as Alabama having any chance at a "stranglehold" on LA, that's just not happening no matter who they get this year.

 

Thanks for the clarification Bhelm! I knew there was something that went on but couldn't recall what...that's why I put "took" in quotations.

 

Not saying he has a chance. Just saying what he wants because it came out of his own mouth. And we both know he'll try anything to get it done. Collins is a prime example. That situation is much more disgusting than most people know and his mother was right to be pissed.

 

Which ones do you think LSU will get? Meanwhile, where will the others land? Why take such a large number? It's a position of need, and I think LSU prefers having these guys on their team and not their opponents. Almost the same argument that could be made for the large number of DBs.

 

They are athletes. We need 6-8 good DBs every game with the spread offense some employ. Some bulk up and play TE or LB, some convert to RB and in Cams O there is plenty of need for RB/R. Also special teams are a great place for these guys. Finally those who are top flight will jump to the pros after 3 years. It is good to have depth when that happens. There are never too many fast guys on a team. The coaches will find use for them.