Hey all. Sorry I have been a bit out of touch. I am just waking up after a 72-hour stint inside the Superdome for the LHSAA state championships. In addition to scouting LSU targets/commitments, trying to evaluate some of the underclassmen in the state for 2020, 2021 and 2022, and nine games later, I'm breathing again.
At the same time, LSU is hosting its official visitors for the penultimate big recruiting weekend of the year. Nakobe Dean, Ray Jones, Derek Stingley Jr., Tyrion Davis, Kardell Thomas, Quentin Skinner, TK McClendon and Thomas Perry are all on campus for officials; 2020 OT commitment Courtland Ford is on hand for an unofficial visit w\ his family.
I'll be catching up with as many of the visitors on Sunday night and into the week. I plan on heading to Montgomery, Ala., for the Alabama-Mississippi Game check-in for Wednesday to see Dean and Jones, as well as Nathan Pickering, Jaren Handy, Charles Moore, Byron Young, George Pickens, Christian Williams and linebacker commitment Kendall McCallum, among others.
That's where I'll begin this weekend's tidbits:
George Pickens officially visited LSU last weekend and was slated to arrive at Auburn, where he's been committed for two years, this weekend. Pickens showed up late -- around Saturday night -- for the official visit. Buzz from Auburn is a lot of concern about Auburn's position with the 5-star WR. Pickens hails from Hoover, Ala., and there is a feeling that LSU made a huge leap last weekend. However, the 5-star is refusing interviews or to speak on LSU's rise because of a fear of backlash from his community. Pickens is a bit of a grade risk, which can be eased when Hoover HS teachers push him along. One source said that so long that he winds up at Alabama or Auburn, he'll be OK; if he were to talk up an out-of-state school, then maybe they look the other way. Pickens took the ACT on Saturday morning, then made his way to The Plains. However, there is a mounting feeling Auburn may not be in a position to land his signature on Feb. 6. LSU is certainly one of the factors why. Alabama, UGA and Florida State are also in the mix here and should get OV in January. He's certainly someone to keep an eye on into January, and hopefully, we'll be able to get a good update in the next week or so.
It's flipping season for the Tide. U-High ATH Christian Harris flipped from TaMU to Alabama; so did 5-star safety Dax Hill and 4-star CB Jeffery Carter. That opens up 2 spots in the Aggies' 2019 recruiting class. Hence, y'all saw my tweet last night. I did not intend on being so secretive or suggestive; anyone who reads our board should have a clue. With the Aggies in need of DB help, their attention is now fully on Marcus Banks and Dreshun Miller. Both are atop of their board with open spots. Miller visited last month and is waiting for his way out of LSU's class. LSU has shifted its attention to the aforementioned Raydarious Jones and Christian Williams and Jay Ward, who will officially visit next weekend. Miller will wind up as either an Aggie or a Mountaineer, per sources, and will not sign with LSU. The fact that TaMU lost those commitments in the past week have opened the door for that to come to fruition.
Four-star LB commitment Donte Starks visited Kansas this weekend and publically stated he will not be signing his LOI on Dec. 19. Starks is expected to officially visit LSU next weekend, and we'll see if his tune changes. I have some texts out to those close to him, but I think that Starks could wind up changing his mind. I also have some theories on why he was selling Kansas so hard over the weekend. Of course, former LSU coach Les Miles is now manning the Jayhawks' program and assistant Tony Hull remains on staff recruiting Louisiana. It's a thought that Starks is giving some Louisiana coaches love as they get their program going.
His brother tells me Arizona will also get a visit in January and they’re resolute on making visits despite being committed somewhere since July. Some combination of Arkansas, Georgia and maybe Oregon will also get visits (I know, that's 6 total) before Signing Day in February.
Additionally, LSU had 5-star LB Nakobe Dean on campus this weekend. As the Tigers explore their chances with the nation's top middle linebacker, Starks probably wanted to show that he had other options, too. I would not read much into this, because it is easy to see that LSU is in need of the depth at middle linebacker with Devin White likely to declare for the NFL Draft and Tyler Taylor's future very much up in the air. The third school of thought on this subject is Starks' grade. He was on the verge of qualifying back in the spring, and I am unsure if he has improved that position since. Kansas has helped players like Mike Lee and Pooka Williams get academically eligible in the past, and if he does not qualify for LSU, then perhaps Kansas could muster up some magic. I think Starks is fine, and LSU has the power to help him qualify if it takes a class or two in the summertime, like they have done with Ed Alexander and Tyler Shelvin in the past. Then, Kansas is just a safe No. 2 option. They just offered in late November and Starks wanted to make OV to LSU as well as Georgia and Arkansas, but if those visits do not transpire, then he'd be keeping Kansas as a secondary option if something were to go wrong with LSU. I expect him to be a Tiger in the end -- whether he signs in December or Feb. 6.
Also had some quick notes to pass along from the LHSAA State Championships from the weekend. Obviously, I'll expand on all of this in the next couple of weeks.
At the same time, LSU is hosting its official visitors for the penultimate big recruiting weekend of the year. Nakobe Dean, Ray Jones, Derek Stingley Jr., Tyrion Davis, Kardell Thomas, Quentin Skinner, TK McClendon and Thomas Perry are all on campus for officials; 2020 OT commitment Courtland Ford is on hand for an unofficial visit w\ his family.
I'll be catching up with as many of the visitors on Sunday night and into the week. I plan on heading to Montgomery, Ala., for the Alabama-Mississippi Game check-in for Wednesday to see Dean and Jones, as well as Nathan Pickering, Jaren Handy, Charles Moore, Byron Young, George Pickens, Christian Williams and linebacker commitment Kendall McCallum, among others.
That's where I'll begin this weekend's tidbits:
George Pickens officially visited LSU last weekend and was slated to arrive at Auburn, where he's been committed for two years, this weekend. Pickens showed up late -- around Saturday night -- for the official visit. Buzz from Auburn is a lot of concern about Auburn's position with the 5-star WR. Pickens hails from Hoover, Ala., and there is a feeling that LSU made a huge leap last weekend. However, the 5-star is refusing interviews or to speak on LSU's rise because of a fear of backlash from his community. Pickens is a bit of a grade risk, which can be eased when Hoover HS teachers push him along. One source said that so long that he winds up at Alabama or Auburn, he'll be OK; if he were to talk up an out-of-state school, then maybe they look the other way. Pickens took the ACT on Saturday morning, then made his way to The Plains. However, there is a mounting feeling Auburn may not be in a position to land his signature on Feb. 6. LSU is certainly one of the factors why. Alabama, UGA and Florida State are also in the mix here and should get OV in January. He's certainly someone to keep an eye on into January, and hopefully, we'll be able to get a good update in the next week or so.
It's flipping season for the Tide. U-High ATH Christian Harris flipped from TaMU to Alabama; so did 5-star safety Dax Hill and 4-star CB Jeffery Carter. That opens up 2 spots in the Aggies' 2019 recruiting class. Hence, y'all saw my tweet last night. I did not intend on being so secretive or suggestive; anyone who reads our board should have a clue. With the Aggies in need of DB help, their attention is now fully on Marcus Banks and Dreshun Miller. Both are atop of their board with open spots. Miller visited last month and is waiting for his way out of LSU's class. LSU has shifted its attention to the aforementioned Raydarious Jones and Christian Williams and Jay Ward, who will officially visit next weekend. Miller will wind up as either an Aggie or a Mountaineer, per sources, and will not sign with LSU. The fact that TaMU lost those commitments in the past week have opened the door for that to come to fruition.
Four-star LB commitment Donte Starks visited Kansas this weekend and publically stated he will not be signing his LOI on Dec. 19. Starks is expected to officially visit LSU next weekend, and we'll see if his tune changes. I have some texts out to those close to him, but I think that Starks could wind up changing his mind. I also have some theories on why he was selling Kansas so hard over the weekend. Of course, former LSU coach Les Miles is now manning the Jayhawks' program and assistant Tony Hull remains on staff recruiting Louisiana. It's a thought that Starks is giving some Louisiana coaches love as they get their program going.
His brother tells me Arizona will also get a visit in January and they’re resolute on making visits despite being committed somewhere since July. Some combination of Arkansas, Georgia and maybe Oregon will also get visits (I know, that's 6 total) before Signing Day in February.
Additionally, LSU had 5-star LB Nakobe Dean on campus this weekend. As the Tigers explore their chances with the nation's top middle linebacker, Starks probably wanted to show that he had other options, too. I would not read much into this, because it is easy to see that LSU is in need of the depth at middle linebacker with Devin White likely to declare for the NFL Draft and Tyler Taylor's future very much up in the air. The third school of thought on this subject is Starks' grade. He was on the verge of qualifying back in the spring, and I am unsure if he has improved that position since. Kansas has helped players like Mike Lee and Pooka Williams get academically eligible in the past, and if he does not qualify for LSU, then perhaps Kansas could muster up some magic. I think Starks is fine, and LSU has the power to help him qualify if it takes a class or two in the summertime, like they have done with Ed Alexander and Tyler Shelvin in the past. Then, Kansas is just a safe No. 2 option. They just offered in late November and Starks wanted to make OV to LSU as well as Georgia and Arkansas, but if those visits do not transpire, then he'd be keeping Kansas as a secondary option if something were to go wrong with LSU. I expect him to be a Tiger in the end -- whether he signs in December or Feb. 6.
Also had some quick notes to pass along from the LHSAA State Championships from the weekend. Obviously, I'll expand on all of this in the next couple of weeks.
- Ashaad Clayton had been wanting to commit to LSU since November. Those plans are on hold. The 4-star RB is starting to explore other options after LSU landed John Emery last month. In his words: he didn't want to be a year behind Emery, knowing how good a talent he is. Expect Georgia, Arkansas and Oklahoma to get visits.
- Chris Hilton showed why he's among the best one or two prospects in Louisiana's 2021 class on Saturday with two touchdowns -- a jump ball in the end zone and an 80-yard catch and run off a screen to give Zachary its second consecutive Class 5A state title. TaMU, Alabama, UGA and UF have all offered, and he has no plans to visit any of those schools yet. Alabama may get him on campus in January, but that's up in the air. LSU has been in touch, but I assure you he will have an offer in due time. He's an elite WR prospect. I expect LSU to capitalize on all the attention from the state championship game and make its move in the springtime during a junior day.
- Hilton's QB, Keilon Brown, is strongly considering Baylor and Virginia. He is hoping to make a decision before the 2019 season and expects a few more offers. Alabama is in touch with him, and so is LSU. I do not expect LSU to offer unless something were to go awry with TJ Finley or Max Johnson. However, if the Tide puts the heat on Brown, it could also pay dividends in their pursuit of Hilton for '21. We shall see, because Brown is dynamic, a great runner and really smart passer. He's just a tad short -- about 5-foot-11 o 6-foot.
- Devonta Lee will take an OV to Kentucky this weekend and do so with his QB Amani Gilmore. I actually believe UK to be the No. 2 team behind LSU in this sweepstakes. I know there was rumblings about the 4-star possibly taking an OV to LSU on Dec. 14 or signing early, but he is definitely going to wait this one out. His mom wants him to end it now, but she is OK letting him take a few visits between Dec. 14 and Feb. 6. She is all LSU, but Kentucky is a team to be wary of because of his relationship with Gilmore. I expect him to be a Tiger and what a performance he had in the state title game.
- Daran Branch, the 3-star DB from Amite, was who LSU DB coach Corey Raymond watched in the Dome on Friday. He had a great game. He's long, rangy and a physical tackler. I think LSU is higher on Branch than some of the other in-state defensive backs in next year's cycle, even those like Joel Williams, who has an offer already. LSU, Auburn and OK State are the teams most heavily in the mix early on for Branch, and I could see him pop to LSU if and when the offer. They will time it right -- likely at a junior day. I expect a heavy out-of-state haul for LSU in the secondary for 2020 with top guys like Elias Ricks, RJ Mickens, Dwight McGlothern, Clark Phillips and Keontae Jenkins all visited Baton Rouge this fall, and I expect LSU to land up to two of those guys. LSU also offered Texas CB Lorando Johnson Jr. on Saturday, and he's a local name to watch as well. Nonetheless, if they take 4 or 5 DB in 2020, Branch has as good a shot to be one of them.
- The last component of LHSAA news is a new profile I will create in the next week or so for Lafayette Christian ATH Sage Ryan, who will be a DB for the 2021 class. He will be up there with Chris Hilton and Brian Thomas of Walker for the best in the state. Sage is the nephrew of Trevor and Kevin Faulk, and Trevor is the HC of Lafeyette. He had a pick-6 and returned a punt for a TD in the Division IV title game, and camped at LSU last summer and will be back this June as well. Corey Raymond has been in touch and will likely offer in due time. He's a fantastic ball-hawking athlete, and you can tell he's from the Faulk tree. As a sophomore he's 6-foot and 180 or so pounds already. Just a name to monitor in that part of the state. Expect his recruitment to take off soon enough.
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