Silence is Not Golden in Alidore Community
February 13, 2014
Nicholls stays local in large, 24-player class
February 13, 2014
If recruiting analysts are right, the LSU football team is on firm footing in the future.
The Tigers hauled in a top-tier recruiting class last week on National Signing Day – a 23-player crop glittered with some of the top high school football players in the country.
LSU’s class is a consensus Top 5 class among recruiting services – a haul that Tigers’ coach Les Miles said is needed as the Tigers continue to chase championships each season.
“This class is a must,” Miles said. “It’s an opportunity to replace guys that have graduated from college and gone into business or have gone into the NFL.
“I think you’ll like this group. I think there’s a number of elite players and guys that are good students. That’s a very, very talented group and a very quality character group.”
Replenishing the cupboard was the theme of LSU’s 2014 recruiting efforts. Miles said the Tigers’ staff worked tireless hours to identify the areas of need within LSU’s roster.
From there, Miles and his assistant coaches worked to recruit players who could fill those needs and fit into the team’s system.
Offensively, consensus five-star halfback Leonard Fournette is the standout figure of the Tigers’ class. Considered by many to be the No. 1 prospect in America, Fournette is a bruising, physical halfback that also possesses plus-level speed and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. While playing for St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Fournette left collegiate coaches drooling over his versatility and elite playmaking ability.
After fielding interest from virtually everyone in America, Fournette chose the Tigers over Alabama – the only other program the prospect seriously considered.
“He’s a consensus five-star recruit,” Miles said of his new tailback. “He’s the 2013 and 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana. He’s a USA Today Offensive Player of the Year and an Under Armor All-American game participant. … (Leonard) possesses great power, speed and vision. He’s certainly a person with very high character.”
Fournette will fill the void in LSU’s offense left by Jeremy Hill’s decision to enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
The Tigers also made moves at the wide receiver position to replace outgoing prospects Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry.
LSU nabbed arguably the best one-two wide receiver punch in the country on National Signing Day, hauling in five-star receiver Malachi Dupre and four-star prospect Trey Quinn.
Dupre is widely regarded as the No. 1 receiver in the country because of his combination of size, strength and speed.
Quinn is a less-imposing specimen, but he’s still an elite performer. The new Tigers’ wide receiver broke the national prep football receiving yardage record, while at Barbe High School in Lake Charles.
Miles said offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s emergence in Baton Rouge went a long way in the Tigers’ ability to haul in two of the best receivers in America. The coach added that LSU is now an attractive destination for playmakers because of the precedent set by Landry and Beckham, who both caught for more than 1,000 yards in 2013.
“I think that our receiving core has said, ‘Yep, I like that. I see those 1,000-yard receivers,’” Miles said. “It’s the first time in school history that we’ve had passing here (at that level). … And I think the receiving core said, ‘Yeah, I want in.’”
On the defensive side of the football, the Tigers focused their efforts in the trenches.
LSU snagged five defensive linemen in the 2014 class – each player ranked among the best in the country at his position.
Most of the Tigers’ fate was decided on National Signing Day, as defensive end Sione Teuhema and defensive tackles Trey Lealaimatafao and Travonte Valentine all pledged to LSU last Wednesday.
The Tigers also received signed scholarships from defensive end commitments Deondre Clark and Davon Godchaux – two players that were rumored as possibilities to flip their commitments on signing day.
The Tigers also polished its defensive front with a signed scholarship from Illinois four-star linebacker Clifton Garrett – a player most consider to be the No. 1 player in his state.
He joins Karr High School linebacker Donnie Alexander as the lone linebackers in the Tigers’ class.
“We went to Illinois and took the No. 1 player in their state,” Miles said. “He’s again, a big, physical, fast (guy). He’s going to give us a tremendous presence inside.”
But while everyone’s focus was on LSU’s 23 signees, Les Miles’ attention was already turned to 2015.
In his signing day news conference, Miles noted that LSU would have liked to add a few more offensive linemen in 2014.
Playing the role of recruiter, Miles said he wants it known that the Tigers will be hungry for linemen in their next class.
“For those offensive linemen within the sound of my voice, the opportunity is certainly great to join these Tigers and have an opportunity to compete to play,” Miles said.
Miles made a similar cryptic statement regarding a need for tailbacks at his 2013 shindig. Twelve months later, he landed Leonard Fournette.
Time will tell how 2015 goes, but LSU surely seems like it has continued its tradition of being a recruiting power.
“In my time here, if we’ve ever had a real area of need, we’ve been able to go out there and answer it very effectively,” Miles said.
LSU coach Les Miles talks to the media after receiving signed scholarships from 23 of the top players in the country. Miles said LSU’s class fit the Tigers’ needs, specifically along the defensive line and at the wide receiver positions.
