Welcome to The Situation Room
What is the Situation Room? For any first time readers of the series, The Situation Room, not unlike the one in the White House is an intelligence management room. A place where you can come get the latest inside scoop on LSU news and recruiting information.
It’s our version of a popular series across the Rivals network. A lot of sites that do these types of reports call them “War Room”.
With that said, lets gets right to it.
The Latest on the DC Search
I know everyone wants to know what the latest is with the DC search as that seems to be the hot topic around the LSU circles these days. I've spent many hours on the phone making calls, texts to many the contacts in my network and the one common theme in every conversation is Blake Baker. He was the first name we mentioned in November when we said we felt like changes were on the horizon. He continues to be the hot name in these conversations and in many LSU circles. So, what's the latest?
There's still a bit of confidence on both sides of the fence as of last night. I'm still told that Baker is at the top of the short list. Contacts on the Missouri side are cautious, but still feel they can make a strong case for Baker to stay in Columbia. I'm told that if Baker was to accept the LSU job it won't be because of Money. There's more that could go into this though that would help LSU's efforts. As we previously said his wife is a Louisiana native, she graduated from LSU, played Soccer at LSU and bleeds Purple and Gold. The belief is that she absolutely wants to come home. There are other ties for Baker to Louisiana as well, outside of his previous stint at LSU, most of you already know he graduated from Tulane and coached at both LSU and Louisiana Tech. But he has other ties to the regional area as well. He was born in Jackson (MS) and lived in and around the Houston area during his high school years. He's a graduate of Clear Lake High School 20 minutes outside of Downtown Houston and still has family in Texas just a little over four hours away from Baton Rouge. Relocating to Louisiana would bring his wife home and him a lot closer to his family, so there's a case to be made for that.
The other belief among my Missouri contacts is that Baker still wants to become a head coach and his name was already being brought up in coaching searches this offseason. Another strong season at Missouri would help his case, but at the same time you can also make an argument that after rebuilding Missouri's defense, doing it again at LSU would only make his resume that much stronger. So, there's arguments you can make for both sides in that regard.
So, to be completely honest, as of this moment I can't say whether he'll take the job or turn it down. But everything I've heard dating back to November puts him at the top of that list. Nothing has changed on that front. It's his if he wants it.
I haven't heard anything in the last 24 hours that changes that. I would like to put a word of caution out on anything that's getting put out there. Jimmy Sexton is his agent and if you're not familiar with how Sexton works, he's not above "playing the game" meaning he will deliberately leak information sometimes true or false to benefit him and his clients. So, take it for what it's worth. If I know info comes from an agent, I'll typically include that as a disclaimer because I don't trust them.
I was told that we should have an answer one way or another sometime this weekend whether it's Baker or not. Could be as soon as today, but I'd expect something before the end of the weekend. I'll continue to monitor the phones and will update you as we have more. But look the Baker situation to resolve itself sometime over the next 24 to 48 hours. Based on the info I've heard; I'd be surprised if it carried over into next week and just to be clear by "It" I'm speaking on the Baker to LSU situation. If Baker turns them down (which is a real possibility) obviously I would not be surprised for it to drag out longer.
The Latest I've Heard on the OC Search
There's a growing sentiment that Joe Sloan is a legitimate candidate. It could be Brian Kelly doing a solid for his interim OC, but I've heard a lot of Joe Sloan chatter and surprisingly or honestly not so surprisingly knowing BK, not much chatter on other candidates. One interesting name I have heard if Kelly were to look elsewhere and to be honest, I'm pretty confident it was just speculation so take it for it's worth but a name that was mentioned in a couple different conversations as a "hot" name was Ryan Grubb of Washington. Again, wasn't anything I'd consider concrete, just noting his name was brought up in conversations. There are no Brian Kelly or LSU ties to my knowledge, believe he's just the hot name right now on the offensive side of the ball, so his name will likely get tossed around.
Position Coaches
Not really anything new to add. Those conversations have been more of the same. Thought I did have some Texas contacts reach out to me and inquire about Bo Davis to LSU, so I think that buzz is now extending to Austin. Still hearing Corey Raymond's name brought up in conversations and to be honest given his history that's no surprise. Nothing really new to add on this front, but I would expect a DC hire to be made prior to position coaches getting announced. But that's just my opinion.
The Latest From the Recruiting Trail
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Rivals five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood is set to make his announcement tomorrow, I put in a FutureCast for Underwood to LSU and there's a ton of confidence on the LSU side heading into Underwood's decision. His addition if LSU can secure his pledge would give the Tigers two five-star prospects for the class of 2025. Expecting the Tigers to be the pick here.
Here's the latest from recruiting analyst Kenny Van Doren
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The No. 1 rated quarterback in the Class of 2025 is set to announce his commitment Saturday afternoon. Bryce Underwood, a five-star pro style QB, has LSU among other Power Five programs atop his list, including his home-state Michigan Wolverines and Alabama.
LSU commit
Keylan Moses made his final social media push for Underwood’s commitment Thursday:
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LSU has already reeled in the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 3 running back from the Class of 2025 in
Dakorien Moore and
Harlem Berry, respectively. Berry joined the Tigers’ class Wednesday, announcing his commitment at the Under Armour All-America Game.
If LSU was to land the pledge of Underwood, it would move into second on the 2025 Recruiting Team Rankings with
1,228 points, 59 points shy of tying Notre Dame for first place. The Irish currently have four more recruits than the Tigers as of Friday.
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Class of 2024 signee Ju’Juan Johnson was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Louisiana Football
Player of the Year on Wednesday.
“Ju’Juan is one of the hardest-working kids that I’ve ever been around,” Lafayette Christian Academy head coach Hunter Landry said in a
release. “The effort you get from him Friday is the effort we get from him Monday through Thursday. He practices just like he plays.”
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Moore, a five-star wideout, was selected as a 2025 Polynesian Bowl All-Star. The Class of 2025 commit is set to join LSU target
Faheem Delane next year.
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Former Texas A&M and Kentucky wide receiver Jordan Anthony committed to Arkansas on Tuesday. Anthony announced an offer from LSU on Dec. 26.
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LSU offered unrated strongside defensive end Andrew Hines on Wednesday. The Class of 2025 recruit is a 6-foot-4, 255-pound edge from Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee, Florida. He currently holds nine other Power Five offers: Boston College, Cincinnati, Indiana, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
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