After a 2012 recruiting class that saw 14 Louisiana prospects sign with the Tigers and four of the top five leave the Pelican State, LSU coach Les Miles made a pledge to bring in more homegrown talent.
According to Bayou Bengals Insider publisher Derek Ponamsky, Miles and his staff will have a bountiful crop of Louisiana products to harvest over the next year.
“2013 in Louisiana is going to be pretty good,” Ponamsky said. “There’s a lot of guys that are really good athletes that are developing into better football players.”
LSU has already laid the groundwork for its 2013 recruiting class by picking up four commitments, all residing in Louisiana.
Loranger defensive back Jeryl Brazil became LSU’s first commit for 2013 when he pledged to the purple and gold on July 20, 2011.
Last weekend, LSU made more progress by gaining verbal commitments from Green Oaks’ Tre’Davious White, Salmen wide receiver Chuck Baker and Jewel Sumner safety Jeremy Cutrer following Junior Day in Baton Rouge.
The LSU staff has also made more offers to several other Louisiana recruits.
Rickey Jefferson, brother of former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, is among those currently with a scholarship offer from the Tigers. The Destrehan wide receiver’s versatility makes him one of the most prominent names in the 2013 Louisiana class.
LSU is also targeting in-state athletes such as John Diarse of Neville, who helped lead his school to a 4A State Championship victory last December. Diarse and Jefferson, along with Kendall Beckwith of East Feliciana, look to be among the most coveted uncommitted athletes in the Bayou State.
Barbe tight end DeSean Smith is also one of the big names in Louisiana to receive an offer from LSU.
“If you look at John Diarse and DeSean Smith and some of the other bigger-name guys, you realize that Louisiana does have a lot of guys that are going to get nationally recruited,” Ponamsky said.
University High defensive end Tim Williams also recieved an offer from LSU. The 6-foot-4 pass rusher joins Denham Springs defensive tackle Tevin Lawson as possible Baton Rouge area natives who could become Tigers.
Edna Karr High School in New Orleans continues to appear on LSU’s radar. After the 2012 signing of offensive tackle Derek Edinburgh, tight end Standish Dobard, who currently has an LSU offer, attended LSU’s Junior Day with his teammate, cornerback Noel Ellis last weekend.
 
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Contact Ian Fontenot at [email protected]