Yes, I know that national signing day is February 7th, and that we have 4 incredibly important scholarships to fill with players like Patrck Surtain Jr., Ja'Marr Chase, Kelvin Joseph and James Foster.
But Ed Orgeron will have to focus his attention, for the time being, on recruiting his draft eligible juniors to return for their senior seasons.
Derrius Guice and Arden Key are projected to be 1st round draft picks and I don't see either giving serious thought to returning...regardless of what Guice is publicly saying.
Will Clapp, Garrett Brumfield, Toby Weathersby, Kevin Toliver, Donte Jackson are all giving thought to leaving LSU to move on to start their professional careers, what they all come to LSU to have an opportunity to do. It wouldn't be a total shock if all declared for the NFL draft, or if all decided to come back for their senior years to improve their draft stock for the 2019 draft.
If I had to look into my crystal ball and take a WAG who is going to leave and who is going to stay, I'd guess that Weathersby, Toliver and Jackson will declare and Clapp and Brumfield will return. I have absolutely nothing to base this on other than things I pick up here and there. Personally I believe that Jackson should return for another season and work on getting bigger and stronger, I have a serious doubt that NFL teams can see him taking on NFL receivers like Tampa's Mike Evans (6'5", 230). Yes, teams will love his speed, but he's whiffed on lots of interceptions right in his hands and bigger receivers have given him lots of trouble. Another year with Tommy Moffitt and Corey Raymond would help him tremendously IMHO. Toliver has the size that the NFL loves in their cornerbacks, but he is still a work in progress. He could be a late round draft pick and make a team's practice squad, but I'm sure the NFL grade he'll get will be to return to college. Weathersby may look to move on, even if it's as a NFL free agent (IMO he'll be taken in the 7th round at worst) to help his family's financial situation. Clapp and Brumfield could be and should be anchors on an offensive line in 2018 that should be one of the best in the country with Saahdiq Charles, Ed Ingram, Austin Deculus, Donavaughn Campbell, Lloyd Cushionberry and Adrian Magee returning, and JUCO players Badara Traore and Damien Lewis signed for 2018. Whoever is the QB and RB in 2018 should have a lot of protection and holes to run through.
But Ed Orgeron, who is SUPPOSEDLY a great recruiter will have to paint the picture to each of these young men and their families why it would be better for them to return for another season in Baton Rouge before moving onto their chosen professional careers.
And while we're at it, Ed's going to be pretty busy trying to convince some coaches to stay on staff, while trying to recruit others to join him at LSU. There are some coaches that we simply cannot lose, while others have been a huge disappointment. Who will Bebe hire as the special teams coach to fix the worst special teams in the SEC and one of the worst in the country, is old timer Greg MaMahon really the answer? Who will he hire to coach linebackers? What young linebacker coach in America wouldn't want to work with and learn from Dave Aranda???????? Hopefully somebody that can recruit the Houston area, right?
Is it too early to say that some of these recruiting and coaching decisions that Ed Orgeron makes in the next month will decide his future beyond 2018?
I welcome your suggestions and criticism if I'm way off base.
But Ed Orgeron will have to focus his attention, for the time being, on recruiting his draft eligible juniors to return for their senior seasons.
Derrius Guice and Arden Key are projected to be 1st round draft picks and I don't see either giving serious thought to returning...regardless of what Guice is publicly saying.
Will Clapp, Garrett Brumfield, Toby Weathersby, Kevin Toliver, Donte Jackson are all giving thought to leaving LSU to move on to start their professional careers, what they all come to LSU to have an opportunity to do. It wouldn't be a total shock if all declared for the NFL draft, or if all decided to come back for their senior years to improve their draft stock for the 2019 draft.
If I had to look into my crystal ball and take a WAG who is going to leave and who is going to stay, I'd guess that Weathersby, Toliver and Jackson will declare and Clapp and Brumfield will return. I have absolutely nothing to base this on other than things I pick up here and there. Personally I believe that Jackson should return for another season and work on getting bigger and stronger, I have a serious doubt that NFL teams can see him taking on NFL receivers like Tampa's Mike Evans (6'5", 230). Yes, teams will love his speed, but he's whiffed on lots of interceptions right in his hands and bigger receivers have given him lots of trouble. Another year with Tommy Moffitt and Corey Raymond would help him tremendously IMHO. Toliver has the size that the NFL loves in their cornerbacks, but he is still a work in progress. He could be a late round draft pick and make a team's practice squad, but I'm sure the NFL grade he'll get will be to return to college. Weathersby may look to move on, even if it's as a NFL free agent (IMO he'll be taken in the 7th round at worst) to help his family's financial situation. Clapp and Brumfield could be and should be anchors on an offensive line in 2018 that should be one of the best in the country with Saahdiq Charles, Ed Ingram, Austin Deculus, Donavaughn Campbell, Lloyd Cushionberry and Adrian Magee returning, and JUCO players Badara Traore and Damien Lewis signed for 2018. Whoever is the QB and RB in 2018 should have a lot of protection and holes to run through.
But Ed Orgeron, who is SUPPOSEDLY a great recruiter will have to paint the picture to each of these young men and their families why it would be better for them to return for another season in Baton Rouge before moving onto their chosen professional careers.
And while we're at it, Ed's going to be pretty busy trying to convince some coaches to stay on staff, while trying to recruit others to join him at LSU. There are some coaches that we simply cannot lose, while others have been a huge disappointment. Who will Bebe hire as the special teams coach to fix the worst special teams in the SEC and one of the worst in the country, is old timer Greg MaMahon really the answer? Who will he hire to coach linebackers? What young linebacker coach in America wouldn't want to work with and learn from Dave Aranda???????? Hopefully somebody that can recruit the Houston area, right?
Is it too early to say that some of these recruiting and coaching decisions that Ed Orgeron makes in the next month will decide his future beyond 2018?
I welcome your suggestions and criticism if I'm way off base.
