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.
Two RB's in 2025
LSU already holds the commitment of one of the best running backs in the country in Harlem Berry who I believe we at Rivals still have under ranked, which seems silly to say considering he's the 26th ranked player in the country and No.3 at his position, but to be honest I'm just not sure there are 25 players in the country better than him, and I'm not so sure he's not the best running back in this class. He's a phenomenal talent and to be quite honest, he's probably the best high school running back I've seen in person, and I've seen some pretty damn good ones. Berry will almost assuredly get a fifth star at some point in the process, and I wouldn't be surprised if he climbs the ranks a bit more.
Will LSU take another back in 2025?... Do they have to?
Will they? Yes... Do they have to? No.
Who will it be?
One of the first things I did upon joining this beat was have a conversation with James Simon following LSU's Bayou Splash event. I talked to him for probably 20 minutes or so that night and I remember the first thing I thought of after hanging up the phone was Simon and his friend Harlem Berry teaming up at LSU. I felt like LSU just needed to get one of those dominoes in and it would drastically increase their chances for the other. Berry has been on LSU's commitment list for over a month now and if I had to guess on who that second take would be at RB, I'd say the most likely candidate is James Simon.
He's been to campus multiple times, he's been around the gameday atmosphere, he knows everything LSU has to offer. He's a Louisiana kid and he's got a close friend he's built a bond with over the years already committed for 2025.
Now, in full transparency I haven't gone and submitted a FutureCast for Simon to LSU just yet, but I think one's coming.
I touched base with Simon just a few days ago and he told me he wants to make a decision prior to his senior season and announce it sometime early in the season. I still think LSU is in the best spot here and as of today would be my pick to land the talented Shreveport (LA) running back.
What about D'Shaun Ford?
Alabama is trending for the Opelousas product after a recent trip to Tuscaloosa that put "Alabama at the top" of his shortlist. He's also eyeing trips to Florida, Texas, Miami and Tennessee.
I'm not quite ready to rule out D'Shaun Ford just yet, but it seems like he hasn't been as much of a priority for LSU. The Tigers could certainly climb back in it if they upped their efforts, but I think the staff is all-in on the Berry/Simon combo. It paid off last cycle when they went all in on Caden Durham, and I do think it will pay off again in 2025.
A pair of WR prospects to keep an eye on
Rivals250 WR Quanel X Farrakhan Jr. is a name to not only know but keep an eye on as 2025 starts to heat up. LSU already has two talented playmakers in the fold for 2025, but Farrakhan Jr. told me that LSU was his "Dream School" - I know... I know... But here's the thing. This kid really really wants an LSU offer and he doesn't yet have one. He does have over 20-plus offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M to name a few.
He's already been on campus, had a great visit, raved about LSU's facilities and wants to get back on campus.
Going back to the dream school sentiment, The Woodland (TX) product told me if LSU were to offer it would be a "Big Deal" and went as far as to say it'd be hard to not instantly commit. I asked him to elaborate on that a little and he said he'd probably put the chances of that around "80%" if offered.
Another Rivals250 prospect to keep an eye on is Lafayette (LA) Acadiana WR Russell Babineaux. LSU definitely has the attention of the 5-foot-9, 160-pound receiver. Talking with Babineaux it sounds like he could be nearing a decision. By the sounds of it, he could make a decision prior to the start of summer after taking a few more visits this spring. He just got back from a trip to Miami, had a great time, loved their facilities, wants to set up some more visits in the coming months. Tips he plans to make include LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State, but he doesn't have any dates locked in just yet.
Told me he continues to hear from LSU pretty regularly and talks with Co-OC and WR coach Cortez Hankton the most as well as Frank Wilson. Schools standing out right now include LSU, Ole Miss, Miami, Florida State, Missouri and Texas A&M.
More Recruiting Intel from Kenny Van Doren
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.
Two RB's in 2025
LSU already holds the commitment of one of the best running backs in the country in Harlem Berry who I believe we at Rivals still have under ranked, which seems silly to say considering he's the 26th ranked player in the country and No.3 at his position, but to be honest I'm just not sure there are 25 players in the country better than him, and I'm not so sure he's not the best running back in this class. He's a phenomenal talent and to be quite honest, he's probably the best high school running back I've seen in person, and I've seen some pretty damn good ones. Berry will almost assuredly get a fifth star at some point in the process, and I wouldn't be surprised if he climbs the ranks a bit more.
Will LSU take another back in 2025?... Do they have to?
Will they? Yes... Do they have to? No.
Who will it be?
One of the first things I did upon joining this beat was have a conversation with James Simon following LSU's Bayou Splash event. I talked to him for probably 20 minutes or so that night and I remember the first thing I thought of after hanging up the phone was Simon and his friend Harlem Berry teaming up at LSU. I felt like LSU just needed to get one of those dominoes in and it would drastically increase their chances for the other. Berry has been on LSU's commitment list for over a month now and if I had to guess on who that second take would be at RB, I'd say the most likely candidate is James Simon.
He's been to campus multiple times, he's been around the gameday atmosphere, he knows everything LSU has to offer. He's a Louisiana kid and he's got a close friend he's built a bond with over the years already committed for 2025.
Now, in full transparency I haven't gone and submitted a FutureCast for Simon to LSU just yet, but I think one's coming.
I touched base with Simon just a few days ago and he told me he wants to make a decision prior to his senior season and announce it sometime early in the season. I still think LSU is in the best spot here and as of today would be my pick to land the talented Shreveport (LA) running back.
What about D'Shaun Ford?
Alabama is trending for the Opelousas product after a recent trip to Tuscaloosa that put "Alabama at the top" of his shortlist. He's also eyeing trips to Florida, Texas, Miami and Tennessee.
I'm not quite ready to rule out D'Shaun Ford just yet, but it seems like he hasn't been as much of a priority for LSU. The Tigers could certainly climb back in it if they upped their efforts, but I think the staff is all-in on the Berry/Simon combo. It paid off last cycle when they went all in on Caden Durham, and I do think it will pay off again in 2025.
A pair of WR prospects to keep an eye on
He's already been on campus, had a great visit, raved about LSU's facilities and wants to get back on campus.
Going back to the dream school sentiment, The Woodland (TX) product told me if LSU were to offer it would be a "Big Deal" and went as far as to say it'd be hard to not instantly commit. I asked him to elaborate on that a little and he said he'd probably put the chances of that around "80%" if offered.
Another Rivals250 prospect to keep an eye on is Lafayette (LA) Acadiana WR Russell Babineaux. LSU definitely has the attention of the 5-foot-9, 160-pound receiver. Talking with Babineaux it sounds like he could be nearing a decision. By the sounds of it, he could make a decision prior to the start of summer after taking a few more visits this spring. He just got back from a trip to Miami, had a great time, loved their facilities, wants to set up some more visits in the coming months. Tips he plans to make include LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State, but he doesn't have any dates locked in just yet.
Told me he continues to hear from LSU pretty regularly and talks with Co-OC and WR coach Cortez Hankton the most as well as Frank Wilson. Schools standing out right now include LSU, Ole Miss, Miami, Florida State, Missouri and Texas A&M.
More Recruiting Intel from Kenny Van Doren
