LSU currently has 22 commitments in the 2023 class and the No. 5 recruiting class in the country, per Rivals. We still aren't sure how many players the Tigers will sign this year but I'm still estimating around 30 (give or take 1 or 2) total of high schoolers and plug in holes using the portal.
The Tigers are still in the mix with several targets for 2023 and I wouldn't be surprised to see another name or two pop up on the radar as senior evaluations wrap up later this fall.
Many of my projections will not many deciding anytime soon or someone like Javien Toviano, who doesn't give out much information, could pop any day now and it feels like if it was sooner rather than later it would be LSU. I also included 5-star Nyckoles Harbor in my piece but I won't feel confident about that until his officials are wrapped up and LSU actually gets him on campus for what's looking like the UAB game. That being said, Harbor has a strong relationship with Jamar Cain and we all know how impressive LSU's track team can be.
LSU recently offered safety Isaac Smith, who has waited a long time for it. It's one he's wanted his entire football life. He grew up dreaming of playing for DBU and watching players like Tyrann Mathieu and Jamal Adams. He's likely to take an unofficial for the Ole Miss game then follow up later in the fall with an official visit. Knowing Isaac a little bit and knowing how much that offer meant to him, I went ahead and included him in my projections because he's a versatile player and could very well be moved around in Matt House's defense like we've seen from some current players. I'll feel better about the pick after his visit of course.
I've had my FutureCast in on DJ Chester for some time now and it still feels like he ends up in Baton Rouge, although, he's not making a decision until January at the game he's playing in. He recently picked up a Clemson offer, which will certainly be one to monitor for him.
Lastly in my projections is Tennessee commitment Jalen Smith, a linebacker from Grayson High in Georgia. LSU has had a pipeline building to that school with commitments from Michael Daugherty (2023), Jojo Stone (2024) and Zion Ferguson (2024). The Tigers haven't let off the gas with Smith despite his pledge to the Vols and there's some positive chatter building with him and LSU. I'm sure it also helps LSU's odds when he's got so many teammates in his ear about the Tigers.
OTHERS I'M WATCHING: Tausili Akana, Jonathan Bax, Jordan Matthews, Derek Williams, Arion Carter, Harvey Broussard, Marjayvious Moss, Marquez Stevenson and Taderius Collins.
LSU is still very much recruiting or keeping tabs on these players and a few have visits coming up and a few may not get an offer until after senior evals, or in the case of Jordan Matthews and Derek Williams, we'll have to see how the rest of their recruitment plays out and how open they may be to LSU moving forward.
lsu.rivals.com
The Tigers are still in the mix with several targets for 2023 and I wouldn't be surprised to see another name or two pop up on the radar as senior evaluations wrap up later this fall.
Many of my projections will not many deciding anytime soon or someone like Javien Toviano, who doesn't give out much information, could pop any day now and it feels like if it was sooner rather than later it would be LSU. I also included 5-star Nyckoles Harbor in my piece but I won't feel confident about that until his officials are wrapped up and LSU actually gets him on campus for what's looking like the UAB game. That being said, Harbor has a strong relationship with Jamar Cain and we all know how impressive LSU's track team can be.
LSU recently offered safety Isaac Smith, who has waited a long time for it. It's one he's wanted his entire football life. He grew up dreaming of playing for DBU and watching players like Tyrann Mathieu and Jamal Adams. He's likely to take an unofficial for the Ole Miss game then follow up later in the fall with an official visit. Knowing Isaac a little bit and knowing how much that offer meant to him, I went ahead and included him in my projections because he's a versatile player and could very well be moved around in Matt House's defense like we've seen from some current players. I'll feel better about the pick after his visit of course.
I've had my FutureCast in on DJ Chester for some time now and it still feels like he ends up in Baton Rouge, although, he's not making a decision until January at the game he's playing in. He recently picked up a Clemson offer, which will certainly be one to monitor for him.
Lastly in my projections is Tennessee commitment Jalen Smith, a linebacker from Grayson High in Georgia. LSU has had a pipeline building to that school with commitments from Michael Daugherty (2023), Jojo Stone (2024) and Zion Ferguson (2024). The Tigers haven't let off the gas with Smith despite his pledge to the Vols and there's some positive chatter building with him and LSU. I'm sure it also helps LSU's odds when he's got so many teammates in his ear about the Tigers.
OTHERS I'M WATCHING: Tausili Akana, Jonathan Bax, Jordan Matthews, Derek Williams, Arion Carter, Harvey Broussard, Marjayvious Moss, Marquez Stevenson and Taderius Collins.
LSU is still very much recruiting or keeping tabs on these players and a few have visits coming up and a few may not get an offer until after senior evals, or in the case of Jordan Matthews and Derek Williams, we'll have to see how the rest of their recruitment plays out and how open they may be to LSU moving forward.
LSU 2023 Class Projections: October
LSU currently has 22 commitments in the Class of 2023.
