2018 LSU Recruiting Thread (1 Viewer)

[MLU]

Well, for two years you hear a guy is locked in and just a few hours before he makes it publically official, he commits to your rival instead because "they win championships".

That tends to create a sour mood...

 

[Guido Merkins]

Well, for two years you hear a guy is locked in and just a few hours before he makes it publically official, he commits to your rival instead because "they win championships".

That tends to create a sour mood...

BTW, you've done really nice work on this thread MLU!!! You tend to be a bit more optimistic than I do when it comes to the current regime, but I know you really know what you are talking about. There are many places I could get info, or I can just come in here and read what you think and that makes it easier.

So thank you!!!

 

[egautr1]

BTW, you've done really nice work on this thread MLU!!! You tend to be a bit more optimistic than I do when it comes to the current regime, but I know you really know what you are talking about. There are many places I could get info, or I can just come in here and read what you think and that makes it easier.

So thank you!!!

I would like to second this sentiment. You do a great job with the recruiting info MLU. You really know your stuff. Can I ask, did you play college or pro ball or are you a coach/scout? You seem more knowledgeable than your typical fan.


I was a little down on Wed. but even without the 2 that got away this is still a very good class that met a lot of needs. So I don't think we are going to be terrible or anything next year but I just don't see us being able to overtake Bama which is the hurdle we have to get over.

 

[VaeVictus]

I will say this....it's a shame how much one or two guys flipping gets all of the attention. LSU inked two really good players yesterday from Louisiana. They are not getting enough attention.

BTW, I'm 100% guilty. I was furious that Surtain flipped to Alabama. It gave me a rotten mood all day.

It's a combination of frustrations, but O really dropped the ball this week. Banked on players he didn't have, let one he did slip away.

To know you have such needs and not sign either a DB or QB is awful. 12 WR on scholarship though...I guess that's good.

It's baffling.

 

[MLU]

Thanks, guys. I have become more of a college football and scouting/draft fan over the years. I work in commercial aviation and do a lot of networking. Over the years I made contacts in scouting and coaching and we loosely stay in touch. I just soaked up everything they had to say and had some pretty great conversations. Sometimes I go with my gut from what happened with similar players and sometimes someone else tells me something. I'm also proficient at The Google. It's just an interest.

I think this team can definitely beat Bama, but they need to get out of their own way to do it. Plenty of teams with less talent than LSU have beaten Saban teams, so it's not impossible. LSU has the disadvantage of not being able to sneak up on them though. That game is circled every year because they know the talent on the roster. There is a healthy respect for the coaches and pretty much every athlete on both rosters chose between the two schools at some point and know the kids on the other schools roster.

As for the recruiting classes, this was not as stellar as we would have liked, but it's a good class. In HS, sometimes the stars are just a matter of how developed the talent is and how much exposure it gets. For me, it's tough to blame a coach for the decisions of children. The staff went in-house with Surtain going into the last week and felt reassured that he was going to commit. He gave them no reason to think otherwise. That's Plan A. They take this and back off Goodrich a little, feeling that he would be available. That's Plan B. In the interim, Dabo makes Goodrich a priority and at the last possible minute, Surtain informs the coaches that he's going to change his mind. Plan C is to sign a JUCO or Grad Transfer because there's no one else on the board that can come in and contribute like Surtain and Goodrich. The plan didn't fail. It's just fell through which happens. Same thing for Foster. You have to wait for a kid to choose or sign someone's you don't want and will just transfer. Foster was Plan A. Finding a Grad Transfer is Plan B. Plan C is rolling the spot over to next year's class. This same line of thinking is why LSU has two very good players in Fehoko and Giles that will contribute in two areas that would be huge holes if not for their being on the roster. Also, no one mentions this but Bama missed out on more kids they felt they would get than LSU did.

I have learned through my own daughter's recruitment and now college career, some high schools have better resources and coaching which leads to kids being recruited more highly. Some kids, like my daughter get lost in the numbers and need the resources and coaching of a college program to really shine. She has really made a jump in performance and strength after just 1 semester and it shows on the track. She PRs in something every meet. Like her, so many of these kids are going to make a leap after getting into a strength program like LSU's. They're going to learn to run every route the same, make the right steps and cuts, learn how to read opposing players, etc and that's going to lead to a leap in performance. It's not just the talent, but the coaching and resources. This is not an area in which LSU is lacking. Every position coach on this team is highly regarded in their position with the exception of Mickey Joseph and Dennis Johnson. They now have WR coach to cover one deficiency and as long as Orgeron is around, meatball and the D-Line has one of the best D-Line coaches in football. Now they're adding Nussmeier to the Shadow Staff to assist with QBs.

They just need to take the schedule one week at a time, don't overlook any opponents, accept the coaching that given to them and execute the game plans as they're drawn up. Everything after that falls to the coaches.

 

[MLU]

This morning I decided to do some digging around and found some potential grad transfers that LSU could be interested in. Now, there's no inside source here as to who they are leaning towards. These are just a few kids who have announced their intention to transfer and would be a good fit.

CB, Chris James, Illinois is originally from Orange, TX. He was lightly recruited and looks like Illinois and Iowa State were his two biggest offers. He redshirted and will be transferring after graduating as a redshirt Junior. James primarily played the nickle position for Lovie Smith.

CB, Juwan Dowels, Syracuse originally from Sunrise, FL and attended American Heritage HS. He was offered by Clemson and OU, but the decision came down to Syracuse and Rutgers. He missed 10 games in 2016 with a knee injury. In three years he had 69 tackles and eight PBs in 24 games.

CB, VJ Banks, Rice was born in Baton Rouge and was recruited from Bryan, TX. Rice and Baylor were the biggest schools to recruit him. He's started on and off, but I'm not sure if it's been due to injury or performance.

CB, Antonio Nelson, Coahoma CC originally signed with UF out of HS in Montgomery, AL and is showing up as a Miss State lean right now. He's the highest rated, unsigned JUCO CB left. He was a 3-star prospect originally with a long, frame and decent cover skills, who never academically qualified for UF. He was named a 1st team All American his freshman year in JUCO with 41 tackles, 8 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.

CB, Benjie Franklin, Navarro College just verbally committed to Texas A&M-Commerce which is something of a Division II power. I have seen a couple references to Franklin around the internet. It might just be wishful thinking, but I thought I would mention it. He's from the Houston area and BR is about as far away from home as Dallas. He was recruited by Auburn and Tennessee, but seems to be going the Div II route. That sounds like possible grade issues.

 

[Bayouboy]

The plan didn't fail. It's just fell through which happens. Same thing for Foster. You have to wait for a kid to choose or sign someone's you don't want and will just transfer. Foster was Plan A. Finding a Grad Transfer is Plan B.

I, too, like your insight. A lot of times we agree, but sometimes see things in a different light (I'm half empty, you are half full). I try to stay positive overall about the program. You have to be realistic as a fan when Nick Saban coaches a team in your division....regardless of coach/players, he's hard to beat.


I do disagree that the plan didn't fail. It most certainly failed. LSU did not sign a CB or QB in this class. CB was of utmost importance. You are down to 4 scholarship corners next year, with Greedy likely moving on after 2018. You did not sign a CB in the early period and you put all of your eggs in the Surtain basket. That's a fail. An epic fail because it hurts you not only in 2018, but in the future as well. By all indications, Foster was a long-shot. One bird in hand is better than two in the bush. If LSU does not cool on Goodrich late, he likely would be a Tiger. I get the fact they were one scholarship short to make a push for all of their wants.....but that can be seen as a failure as well. While the kicker they signed looks to be outstanding, he's here for one year. Give me Goodrich in a heartbeat over the one year kicker.


Hopefully, the staff will learn from their mistakes in this first early signing period. But, let's be real.....if this coaching staff does not start turning things around, they won't be around for long. The SEC West will be hard to navigate once these other coaches (other than Satan) get their programs on track. Orgeron has to get better every year just to keep up.

 

[MLU]

I, too, like your insight. A lot of times we agree, but sometimes see things in a different light (I'm half empty, you are half full). I try to stay positive overall about the program. You have to be realistic as a fan when Nick Saban coaches a team in your division....regardless of coach/players, he's hard to beat.

I do disagree that the plan didn't fail. It most certainly failed. LSU did not sign a CB or QB in this class. CB was of utmost importance. You are down to 4 scholarship corners next year, with Greedy likely moving on after 2018. You did not sign a CB in the early period and you put all of your eggs in the Surtain basket. That's a fail. An epic fail because it hurts you not only in 2018, but in the future as well. By all indications, Foster was a long-shot. One bird in hand is better than two in the bush. If LSU does not cool on Goodrich late, he likely would be a Tiger. I get the fact they were one scholarship short to make a push for all of their wants.....but that can be seen as a failure as well. While the kicker they signed looks to be outstanding, he's here for one year. Give me Goodrich in a heartbeat over the one year kicker.

Hopefully, the staff will learn from their mistakes in this first early signing period. But, let's be real.....if this coaching staff does not start turning things around, they won't be around for long. The SEC West will be hard to navigate once these other coaches (other than Satan) get their programs on track. Orgeron has to get better every year just to keep up.

Not signing 1 CB has no long term implications, especially with a ridiculous number of elite CBs in the 2019 in Louisiana. Not signing a CB in this class is a failure, but understand that the signing period is not yet over. In that way, the plan did not fail. Options A and B just did the turn out the way we hoped. If they start the season without adding a JUCO or Grad Transfer, then you can call it a failure.

 

[You]

if this class is what Orgeron wanted then I'll hold off on my delayed expectation that we get to the SEC title game within 2 years.

 

[MLU]

Outside of UGA, I don't think any school got everyone they wanted.

 

[st dude]

Not signing 1 CB has no long term implications, especially with a ridiculous number of elite CBs in the 2019 in Louisiana. Not signing a CB in this class is a failure, but understand that the signing period is not yet over. In that way, the plan did not fail. Options A and B just did the turn out the way we hoped. If they start the season without adding a JUCO or Grad Transfer, then you can call it a failure.

MLU, I think this is sugarcoating a major failure in this class. You should have two corners in every class. Not only did Orgeron miss on Surtain, as it turns out Goodrich wanted to commit but Orgeron told him there was no room.

When Surtain told the staff Tuesday night he wasn’t coming, Orgeron tried to get Goodrich but it was too late.

The numbers are so thin at corner, they are moving Joseph to corner. He is a natural safety. I can’t think of a class in LSU history where we got no corners.

Getting a juco doesn’t fix the fail. You need developmental players.

Missing on a qb is another major, major fail. Ironically it was the spot Orgeron was holding for Foster that caused us to lose Goodrich. And then he loses Foster to a division rival who few thought was in the mix.

The rest of the class was fine. The problem is that the one thing Orgeron was supposed to excel at, recruiting, he did just okay at. Miles regularly got top ten classes. As it turns out, LSU doesn’t recruit itself as many who wanted to ditch Miles claimed.

It was probably time for Miles to go, but Miles never got the credit he deserved as a top recruiter.

I am ready for the Orgeron era to be over, but I’ll pull for him and his team to prove me wrong.

 

[MLU]

Yeah, I'm sugarcoating it a bit, but it's not the disaster everyone makes it out to be. It hurts less that Surtain didn't sign with LSU and more that he signed with Bama. Perhaps it's just because in my line of work I mitigate "disasters", so there is always a plan to move forward. The plan isn't always as good as the first one, but it's still a good plan.

Also, Surtain wasn't a development prospect. He was an immediate contributor and Joseph will probably see the field immediately as a nickel. This is how signing a JUCO or Grad Transfer helps the situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see some other moves to mitigate the failure like having a WR move over to CB or moving another safety to CB as well. Joseph played every secondary position, so while his true position is S he's still a pretty good CB. No CBs this year means they're going to need to double up next year. They'll need to find some kids that will contribute right away as well as a couple kids to develop and maybe a JUCO next year, too. Thanks fully the state is chock full of CBs in 2019.

Not getting a QB this year just means you get two next year. Landing Foster would have been a small miracle considering the number of changes at OC in the past 2 years from Cameron to Ensminger to Canada then back to Ensminger. That's going to continue to be an issue with that kind of inconsistency. I'm curious as to how Loving fits in. I don't actually expect lightning in a bottle, but I don't expect another Caleb Lewis, either. Loving has some talent and may feel he fell through the cracks because he didn't camp much due to playing other sports.

D-Line and O-Line depth was the biggest need and it was addressed. It was good to see we didn't fall behind on LBers by grabbing a couple really good ones. Pass rusher were addressed as well. Not signing a CB and QB doesn't suddenly make the entire class a failure. You just need to find another way to address the holes you have now.

 

[BIG E]

I have learned through my own daughter's recruitment and now college career, some high schools have better resources and coaching which leads to kids being recruited more highly. Some kids, like my daughter get lost in the numbers and need the resources and coaching of a college program to really shine. She has really made a jump in performance and strength after just 1 semester and it shows on the track. She PRs in something every meet. Like her, so many of these kids are going to make a leap after getting into a strength program like LSU's. They're going to learn to run every route the same, make the right steps and cuts, learn how to read opposing players, etc and that's going to lead to a leap in performance. It's not just the talent, but the coaching and resources. This is not an area in which LSU is lacking. Every position coach on this team is highly regarded in their position with the exception of Mickey Joseph and Dennis Johnson. They now have WR coach to cover one deficiency and as long as Orgeron is around, meatball and the D-Line has one of the best D-Line coaches in football. Now they're adding Nussmeier to the Shadow Staff to assist with QBs.

I agree with you on this. Keenan Jones is athletically gifted as anyone in this class. He's 6'4 205 and fast. He won the state long jump and triple jump and 2nd in the high jump as a Jr., but he's from a small school not known for football. If he puts in the effort, he should be coached up to be a star. If a 4 star can be considered a sleeper, it's him.

 

[st dude]

I agree with you on this. Keenan Jones is athletically gifted as anyone in this class. He's 6'4 205 and fast. He won the state long jump and triple jump and 2nd in the high jump as a Jr., but he's from a small school not known for football. If he puts in the effort, he should be coached up to be a star. If a 4 star can be considered a sleeper, it's him.

The receiver haul in this class may have been the best in the country. I just have a hard time seeing how you take 4 receivers and no corners.

You might be right about Jones. Even if he is as good as you say, he might still be buried on the depth chart behind Chase and Marshall. What worries me when you take four in one class at the same position, it’s almost guaranteed one or two will transfer.

But I am excited about this receiver class. And unlike a lot of Orgeron haters, I actually think Ensminger is a pretty shrewd coordinator. He will make better use of the receivers than Canada or anyone under Miles did.

 

[MLU]

The receiver haul in this class may have been the best in the country. I just have a hard time seeing how you take 4 receivers and no corners.

You might be right about Jones. Even if he is as good as you say, he might still be buried on the depth chart behind Chase and Marshall. What worries me when you take four in one class at the same position, it’s almost guaranteed one or two will transfer.

But I am excited about this receiver class. And unlike a lot of Orgeron haters, I actually think Ensminger is a pretty shrewd coordinator. He will make better use of the receivers than Canada or anyone under Miles did.

Jaray Jenkins is a candidate to switch to CB I heard. Also, after Dillon, Chase is the shortest receiver at 6-1.