Happy Early Signing Period week!
LSU is coming off a busy, busy weekend of hosting commitments and targets as it was the last weekend for visits to happen before the signing period starts Wednesday.
Let's get to it:
Desmond Ricks &
Isaac Smith
LSU hosted both uncommitted prospects for official visits and rolled out the red carpet from Diamond Dinner in Tiger Stadium to time spent at Brian Kelly's house, the Tigers are hoping to finish off their 2023 class by adding both of these DBs. I have FutureCasts in on both from quite some time ago.
LSU's biggest competition for Ricks is Alabama and Florida -- he was coming off visits to both and both made up considerable ground as LSU has been the favorite for some time. Coming off this weekend, I still like the Tigers in this situation but that talk could just be the high coming off the visit. Ricks isn't announcing until Thursday and I believe we'll have a clearer picture before then but right now it's anybody's guess but my gut is making my still lean slightly toward LSU.
Smith's recruitment has been an interesting one. LSU is the school he wanted an offer from the most but they didn't enter the picture until September all the while Mississippi State has been on him since Day 1 and for a kid like Smith that seems to matter. He was at State and with Mike Leach the day before he had his heart incident. With Zach Arnett named the new head coach for the Bulldogs, I'm sure that keeps them in a close running with the Tigers. After doing some digging, it sounds like Smith is torn and may not have a decision made until Tuesday night.
I'm not moving my FC off of LSU on either Ricks or Smith right now but if I get concrete information in the next day or so that changes things then I'll definitely keep y'all posted.
Bradyn Swinson
Obviously, LSU picked up its first transfer portal commitment Sunday in WR
Aaron Anderson, who I didn't think would announce until after the Early Signing Period but I guess he was ready to get it over with. I'm expecting Oregon transfer Bradyn Swinson to hop aboard soon too. There's a clear path to the field for Swinson, who would be used as a JACK LB and fill the BJ Ojulari role, as either a starter or in a heavy rotation. Heck, the way Swinson and his dad are posting on social media, they're being totally open and clear with how much they loved the LSU visit over the weekend.
Swinson is now 6-5, 233ish and a Georgia native with multiple years of eligibility left. LSU would certainly bring him a lot closer to home than Oregon.
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
OTHER TRANSFERS TO WATCH
Denver Harris
Galvin Holmes
Jalen Lee
Gharin Stansbury