This year seems to be a light year as far as talent coming out of LA. Saban has signed the best of what we have in-state but does seem to be losing out-of-state battles. With top blue chips at skill positions falling to other schools can we pull of a top 5 class this year? Top 10? If we lose out at the skill players can we make it up on the linemen (mostly uncommitted)? Where do you think we will stand.
LSU will recruit a fine class this year, but don't be surprised if it isn't in the top five. With every recruit apparently eligible from the oversigned 2004 class and with no transfers announced over the summer, Nick can likely only sign 18 or 19 players this year and stay under the 85-total limit, so he has to be picky. Also the recruting classes now playing at LSU were ranked #1, #15, #1, and #2 coming out of high school. There is a logjam of talent at certain positions that will make some top recruits think twice about LSU. We have high school All-Americans sitting on the bench, hoping for a chance to start. This year Nick will be looking to fill specific needs within the limits he's facing.
we already have 6 four stars out of a total of 8 commitments for 2005 and it's only July. The remaining two are Hitt and Beckwith i think Lyle Hitt is anticipated to jump his status I don't know too much about Beckwith
Great post Red. The last 4 years LSU has really built a solid stable of talent. Now, Saban can afford to improve positions when those skill guys become available, versus in the past just needing bodies. Saban is looking 2-4 years down the depth chart. He will pass on some talented in state kids because that are not an improvement over what we currently have. This is a luxury Saban has built for us the last few years. I hope those talented “in-state” guys that do not get offered by LSU, stay in state improving the ULL & La Techs programs. As much as I was against Bertman playing in state schools in Baseball, it really raised the overall quality of Louisiana college baseball. Maybe, the same can be said for Louisiana football. I am tired of seeing Louisiana athletes going to Colorado, California and Florida to play ball.
We hear about the ones that have already committed elsewhere but we are still on the board for a hell of a lot of top tranked players around the nation.
I actually worked on the recruiting prospects late last night. So here goes: LSU currently has 2 of the top 100 players on rivals.com. LSU had 3, but Keyes has since fallen out, but he may creep back into the list. LSU has 29 players in the top 100 who legitimately are considering LSU as a possible commitment. By position it goes as follows: QB........1 RB/APB..2 WR.......3 ATH......3 TE........3 OL........4 DL........7 LB........3 DB........3 LSU currently has 8 commitments. I think LSU will sign 19. 12 of the 29 top 100 prospects considering LSU are currently 5 star recruits (top 25 in rivals). My prediction is for LSU to land 4 of these. Last year LSU landed 7 of the top 100 rivals recruits. I predict LSU lands between 9-12 this year. Overall I think LSU will end up with 4 five star recruits, 12 four star, and 3 three star. If you project that out to last year's recruiting class, that would have placed LSU anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the nation (more than likely 2nd). So basically it would be considered about as strong as the 2004 class, more quality, less quantity. Here is where I think LSU will target by position (of the 11 remaining spots): QB.....1 WR....1 ATH...1 OL.....3 DL......2 OLB....2 TE......1 The QB of course is Perilloux. I really don't know if LSU will go after any other QB if Perillloux goes elsewhere. More than likely, yes. In this case, it would not be someone rated highly like a JaMarcus Russell (#6), but more like a Matt Flynn instead (#16). All QBs at the top of the list are already committed except for Perilloux. If LSU decides not to recruit a QB, then look for LSU to get another TE or even more likely a DL (since 7 of the top 100 are eyeing LSU).
I'm pretty sure we aren't getting Perilloux. Which I don't think is a big deal because we have 2 every capable RS Fr on the bench. QB shouldn't be a huge priorty, because we also have Reever coming in. I don't see us getting more than two 5 star guys, maybe 3. I think we'll finish top 10 for sure, possibly top 5.
You see us getting only 2 (5 Star) recruits? Who do you think the 2 are? IMO, I think we will get between 3 & 5 (5 Star) recruits. If not, nothing wrong with having a Huge class filled with solid (4 Star) recruits. The difference is: 5.8-6.0 (4 Star) 6.1 (5 Star) :geaux:
The thing is with so few scholly's left (10-11 at most), Saban can really go after the top recruits this year. That is why I think we will sign 4 of them.
