Star-studded 2011 class helps LSU reload

LSU coach Les Miles prides himself on creating a family-like atmosphere for his players.

On National Signing Day, that family got 22 new members.

The Tigers unveiled its 2011 signing class last Wednesday, a class that is heralded by many as one of the top and most talented in the country.

But to Miles and the class’ members, it’s all in the family – a moniker given to the 2011 class by O. Perry Walker standout defensive lineman Anthony Johnson when he gave his pledge to the Tigers.

“Anthony Johnson was certainly a rallying call. He said early on, ‘I’m going to play my college ball and I’d love for you to join me to see if we can win another title at LSU,'” Miles said. “I think ‘The Fam’ took shape. I think the guys like Anthony Johnson, La’el Collins and really a number of guys were committed to being here, and I think it encouraged a number to join them.”

The players joining the proverbial family tree in Baton Rouge are talented, as the Tigers hauled in 10 players among the Top 250 in America, according to recruiting service Rivals.com.

Among the group are three 5-star prospects and nine 4-star prospects, the two highest grades given to players by most recruiting services. Those numbers were good enough to give LSU a Top 10 class in America among almost every recruiting service.

“I like the class. I like the position we’re in, and it sure is fun to recruit at LSU,” Miles said. “It’s a place that makes a strong impression on a young man when he comes to visit.”

Scout.com recruiting analyst Shea Dixon agreed and said LSU did a great job to fill their needs, while also stockpiling depth at virtually every position.

“I think when you’re trying to make a run at national championships or a run at a single national championship, I certainly think this could be a really good foundation in this class with how they’ve recruited across the board,” Dixon said.

On the offensive side of the football, LSU piled depth into several positions of their already loaded cupboard, getting 11 of their 22 commitments.

But the Tigers also think they were able to fill one of their only positions of need – quarterback.

LSU signed junior college transfer and former Georgia signal caller Zach Mettenberger, while also getting a signed scholarship from Athens High School quarterback Stephen Rivers.

Rivers is the younger brother of San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl quarterback Phillip Rivers.

Miles said he views Rivers as the team’s future starter, but added the future might be now for Mettenberger, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 245 pounds.

“Zach Mettenberger comes in and gets an opportunity to start quickly,” Miles said.

To compliment his two future quarterbacks, LSU also was able to sign playmakers like five-star receiver Jarvis Landry, four-star halfback and former Patterson standout Kenny Hilliard.

The team also added beef in the way of five-star offensive tackle and 6-foot-5-inch, 285-pounder La’El Collins, who hails from Baton Rouge and is heralded by many as the best offensive lineman in America.

With the loss of the team’s bruising halfback Stevan Ridley to the NFL, Miles said Tri-parish fans might be pleased with his halfback rotation for next season.

“We just feel like Kenny Hilliard will be a guy that will step onto the field,” Miles said. “We’ll lose Ridley as a big back, and we’ll look to find a guy who can do some of those things, and Kenny Hilliard may well predict to be that.”

On defense, LSU continued their trademark of being “D-Line U,” signing Johnson, as well as four-star prospects like Evangel High School’s Jermauria Rasco and Covington High School’s Mickey Johnson.

“I especially like the big men in this class,” Miles said. “We were very fortunate, because our need was a big-man need.”

LSU also added depth in their secondary, signing five defensive backs.

But if there was one area the Tigers missed on, it was linebacker. With Kelvin Sheppard graduating, LSU would have liked to sign more depth in that area, but ended up just getting Texas standout Trevon Randle.

“I think if you look at it, they’d have probably liked to take one or two more linebackers,” Scout.com recruiting analyst Sonny Shipp said. “But the one they got in Randle is a pretty good player that they really like a lot.”

In total, 17 of the 22 signees were from Louisiana.

The fence around the state just keeps getting more and more iron clad for LSU’s recruiting efforts.

Louisiana kids just want to be a part of the family, it seems.

“We’ll recruit everyone that we can from the state. This is a state where football is important,” Miles said. “The players that come out of this state have been trained. Coaches in this state have coached them extremely well. They are very competitive on Friday nights. It makes for their high school programs to be of quality. Therefore, I expect even if they are not highly ranked guys, they’ve been trained and understand the way of discipline. Recruiting this state for us is imperative. If you look at the great teams that we’ve had, the leadership has always come from this state.”

LSU’s Signing Day Class of 2011:

Jonah Austin, 6’7, 305, offensive lineman, St. Augustine High School, New Orleans

Odell Beckham, Jr., 5’10, 165, wide receiver, Isadore Newman High School, New Orleans

Jalen Collins, 6’2, 180, defensive back, Olive Branch High School, Olive Branch, Miss.

La’El Collins, 6’5, 285, offensive lineman, Redemptorist High School, Baton Rouge

Micah Eugene, 5’11, 190, defensive back, Acadiana High School, Lafayette

James Hairston, 6’1, 200, kicker, Jesuit High School, Dallas, Texas

Kenny Hilliard, 6’0, 218, halfback, Patterson High School, Patterson

David Jenkins, 6’1, 185, defensive back, Hebron High School, Carrollton, Texas

Anthony Johnson, 6’4, 298, defensive tackle, O. Perry Walker High School, New Orleans

Mickey Johnson, 6’1, 310, defensive tackle, Covington High School, Covington

Jarvis Landry, 5’11, 178, wide receiver, Lutcher High School, Lutcher

Alonzo Lewis, 6’3, 192, wide receiver, St. James High School, St. James

Terrance Magee, 5’9, 190, athlete, Franklinton High School, Franklinton

Ronald Martin, 6’2, 190, defensive back, White Castle High School, White Castle

Zach Mettenberger, 6’5, 245, quarterback, transfer from Butler Community College, El Dorado, Kan.

Trevon Randle, 6’1, 205, linebacker, Clear Springs High School, League City, Texas

Jermauria Rasco, 6’3, 227, defensive end, Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport

Stephen Rivers, 6’6, 215, quarterback, Athens High School, Athens, Ala.

Quentin Thomas, 6’3, 265, defensive end, Breaux Bridge High School, Breaux Bridge

Paul Turner, 5’11, 190, athlete, West Monroe High School, Monroe

Trai Turner, 6’5, 340, offensive line, St. Augustine High School, New Orleans

Corey White, 6’5, 280, offensive line, Capitol High School, Baton Rouge

Star-studded 2011 class helps LSU reload