Jay Boudreaux
February 11, 2015
Man accused of cutting off two puppies’ heads, killing others
February 11, 2015
The LSU football team did not finish with the top recruiting class in the country this year. In fact, by most metrics, the Tigers weren’t even in the nation’s Top 5.
But Tigers’ coach Les Miles says fans should pay no mind to overall rankings and should instead focus on how well a recruiting class meets the needs of a team’s roster.
If one does that, Miles said it becomes easier to see that 2015’s recruiting class hit the spot and was exactly what the Tigers needed to regain steam and push for the SEC Championship.
Miles announced LSU’s 25-player signing class on Wednesday afternoon, touting his pleasure with everyone in the class.
He said that the Tigers reloaded and have placed themselves in position to chase championships in the future.
“We really won’t know about this class for a year or two,” Miles said. “But it’s got balance of speed and size, and it’s a class, that in my mind, can help us compete for championships and certainly for the college football playoffs.”
Offense was the biggest source of the Tigers’ recruiting overhaul. A total of 18 of the Tigers’ 25 commitments play that side of the ball, including five halfbacks, four receivers, a tight end and a quarterback.
Up front, LSU loaded up, hauling in seven offensive linemen – three of whom were given rankings of four stars or above by recruiting service rivals.com.
Massive five-star offensive tackle Maea Teuhema leads the bunch – one of five Rivals.com five-star players to ink with LSU.
Miles also lauded four-star Toby Weathersby, four-star George Brown and lesser-knowns like Adrian Magee, Hanner Shipley and Blake Ferguson.
Ferguson is just a two-star player, according to most recruiting services. But his value is probably greater than that long-term, because he is the consensus No. 1 long snapper in America.
“The past month has given us a real strength in the offensive line,” Miles said. “(It) allows us to develop those young guys behind what would be (returning starters) Jerald Hawkins and Vadal Alexander.
“And with the idea that finding the best five guys this year will be a little bit more competitive and the idea that these guys would step forward in a year or so, and we’d figure to be one of the best lines around.”
The guys the linemen will be blocking for in the future are highly touted, as well.
LSU received signed scholarships from several Blue Chip playmakers, including five-star receiver and Warren Easton standout Tyron Johnson and five-star halfback, Catholic High’s Derrius Guice.
The five-star prospects will be joined by a solid core that also includes touted players like halfback David Ducre, receivers David Dillon and Jazz Ferguson.
For the second-straight season, the Tigers also got a signed pledge from a Four-nette, as St. Aug standout Lanard Fournette joins his older brother Leonard Fournette in Baton Rouge.
Lanard doesn’t have the brute size of his big brother, standing 5-feet, 10-inches and weighing 170 pounds. But he is quick and slippery on the field. He figures to be in the mix to return kicks next season.
Miles said he takes comfort in knowing that the Tigers will again have a plethora of halfbacks to pick from for the future.
“I think we’re a team that allows for the fact that you want to stay fresh, and you want to stay healthy,” Miles said. “I think that that is a very quality recipe for us, and I think we have a very talented group of backs; and who’s got the hot hand is who’s going to go.”
On the defensive side of the ball, LSU was a little bit lighter in numbers, signing four defensive backs, two defensive linemen and no linebackers.
Miles said the lower defensive numbers are partly because of former defensive coordinator John Chavis’ decision to leave the team and head to Texas A&M – a decision that soured a few recruits away from LSU.
But the defensive players that the Tigers did get are among the best in the country, headlined by Blue Chip five-star cornerback Kevin Toliver II. A Jacksonville, Florida native who has been committed to LSU since Nov. 2012, Toliver is the No. 27 player in America, according to Rivals – a consensus pick as one of the top defensive backs in the country.
Four-star East St. John cornerback Xavier Lewis is also a touted defensive signee, as-is elite playmaker and New Orleans native Donte Jackson.
Miles said he’s counting Jackson as a defensive commitment, but added that there’s a possibility he plays offense at the next level.
At Riverdale, Jackson was one of the most explosive prep football players in the country, routinely making plays to help his team.
“If you look at Donte, he will have an ability to catch balls out of the backfield, carry balls out of the backfield, return punts and return kickoffs,” Miles said. “He’ll also be a lockdown corner with great speed. Those guys are rare. They just don’t show up all the time.”
On the defensive line, LSU got a late prize when new defensive line coach Ed Orgeron swung South Carolina commitment and four-star defensive end Arden Key over to LSU. Key stands 6-feet, 6-inches and weighs 230 pounds. Miles said with added size, he could be an immediate impact player. He joins four-star Edna Karr defensive end Isaiah Washington as the lone defensive linemen in the class.
In special teams, the Tigers signed Australian punter/kicker Josh Growden – continuing the Tigers’ pipeline in that country.
Miles said he can’t wait to watch Growden punt – touting that he has a big leg for a kid his age.
But if LSU’s offense-heavy class has its say, the Tigers won’t be punting much in the future.
Instead, they’ll be scoring touchdowns.
“It’s early to tell yet. We have to wait a few years,” Miles said. “But I like the class, and I think it’s just what we needed at the time in which we needed it. We’re very pleased.”
HENRY LEAVES LSU FOR NFL’s 49ERS
As LSU dusted off its recruiting efforts for another year, they said goodbye to another assistant coach.
The San Francisco 49ers announced this week that Adam Henry will be the team’s new wide receivers coach.
Henry had held the same position at LSU since 2012. Under his watch, a slew of talented wideouts have come into the Tigers’ program, including NFL standouts Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. Henry also was instrumental in recruiting top-flight guys like Malachi Dupre and Tyron Johnson.
LSU has confirmed Henry’s departure. No timetable was given for his successor.
LSU head football coach Les Miles talks to reporters at his National Signing Day press conference. The Tigers had one of the top classes In the country, hauling In five-star players on both offense and defense. Miles said the team’s recruiting efforts were a success, touting that he and his coaching staff filled all of the team’s needs. The longtime LSU coach said he thinks the players In this recruiting class will allow the Tigers to compete for championships.
