Do any of you guys have any idea how many of the players you are after this year were on the recruiting board last year? I see how the season is going...and it's brought the question to mind of Miles is just picking up where Saban left off. I mean that in the sense that since Saban was after these kids they had a lot of interest in LSU for awhile now. But, was it Miles that made them continue their interest? No offense intended at all...just curious if Miles is developing his own "recruiting strategy."
Miles seems to be picking up where Nick left off, fencing in Louisiana talent and going to states like Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and other close ones and trying to pull some of those regional studs to Baton Rouge. Early on it looked as if he was taking a more national stance and looking all over the nation but I think he found out there is so much talent in state and in this region that he could do a better job concentrating his efforts here. Jimbo has always done well bringing in talent and it seems as though Karl Dunbar is doing a tremendous job recruiting some of these defensive studs as they know he can get them to the league.
IMO, Dunbar and Peveto are worth their weight in gold in terms of recruiting and in coaching. Those 2 guys were/are GREAT additions to the Tiger staff.
Yah I forgot to mention Peveto. You're right BostonBengal he deserves tons of credit for this recruiting class so far.
Not only have Dunbar and Peveto been two of the best recruiters for the Tiger staff, but they have been two of the better coaches. Dunbar took a starting defensive line unit that was without all-world Marcus Spears and got the arguably the near same results while Peveto took a Special teams unit that was barely average (if anything) the past two seasons, and made them a force in the SEC. Peveto's special teams unit had probably the biggest positive turn-around/improvement this year as that same unit had last year under Dooley. And you also have to give Peveto credit for his work as a LB's coach for taking a unit without a true "run-stuffing" MIKE linebacker (Lionel Turner) and coaching up what would have been a sure-fire All-SEC OLB (Vaughn), and making him into a respectible MIKE.
What you want to know is, are the players we are recruiting now the same players Nick had high on his list...and the answer is, for the most part, yes. We have a couple of really old guys in the football office who handle recruiting/scouting/hs coaches etc...and they know everyone since Jesus. They have been in contact with these kids and their coaches since before Nick was named HC. Now, some of the players are different just because of different philosophies, but even those kids were very likely on the list.
It's not so much picking up where Nick left off as it is making sure the Louisiana's best and brightest know they're wanted at the state's flagship school. As long as LSU is winning, they'll always get the best the state has to offer.
