Saturday’s game between No. 5 LSU and No. 1 Alabama figures to feature a packed-to-the-brim Tiger Stadium, and not everyone will be fans.
Think the Alabama game is a big deal to the everyday fan? Imagine if it was a key factor in a decision on where to spend the next four years.
That’s the conundrum many top recruits who are torn between Alabama and LSU face Saturday. The game provides high school prospects a direct look into what their futures could hold at the college level.
LSU and Alabama have brought in top-20 classes every year since 2008. For the 2013 class, LSU ranks as the second best in the nation, only behind the University of Southern California, while Alabama holds down the fifth spot, according to recruiting site Rivals.com.
The outcome of this game could dramatically shift the recruiting landscape for both teams.
Kendell Beckwith, Ricky Seals-Jones, Timothy Williams and the speedy Jeryl Brazil will all be present in Death Valley on Saturday — along with several other recruits — and the game could determine where these exciting prospects play college football.
Beckwith plays at East Feliciana where he is the No. 1-rated athlete in the nation, and he is projected to be a defensive end or outside linebacker at the college level.
“I’ll definitely be at that game,” Beckwith said after a win against Richwood High. “It’s the biggest game of the year. They both play physical football, which fits my style, so it’ll be interesting to watch.”
Seals-Jones is the top-rated wide receiver in the nation and possesses a Calvin Johnson-like skill set. Standing at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds with blazing speed, Seals-Jones is the kind of receiver who could break open a game on one play.
Seals-Jones was at LSU’s game against Texas A&M — considered one of his top destinations. LSU doesn’t currently have a receiver with his combination of size and speed, and his addition could remedy a struggling passing attack.
Williams comes from LSU’s backyard — he plays for University High School on LSU’s campus — and while Miami currently holds his strongest interest, he is being heavily recruited by both LSU and Alabama.
Williams is rated the No. 4 defensive end in the nation and is a pass rushing specialist who could ease the anticipated loss of current Tiger defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery to the NFL next year.
Brazil was the first commit of the 2013 season for LSU, but has since flip-flopped between the two Southeastern Conference powerhouses. Brazil recently went on an official visit to Alabama, and has tweeted pictures of himself wearing the crimson helmet.
Brazil’s latest tweets give insight to his mindset going into Saturday. He has retweeted both LSU fans and Alabama fans pleading for his commitment in the build up to the game.
Brazil is the No. 8 athlete in the nation and would inject some much-needed speed into LSU’s offense. Possessing a 40-yard dash time of 4.32 — good for tops in the nation according to ESPN.com’s testing results — Brazil has the potential to be a spark plug on both offense and in special teams.
“The recruiting process has been going well,” Brazil said after Loranger’s win Friday against Amite High. “I’ll definitely be at the game next weekend. …I’ll be watching closely and thinking about the future.”
With the biggest game looming on the horizon, LSU’s recruiting class is held in the balance. Recruits often use the biggest game of the year to assess the teams they are considering.
“It allows you to see how they perform on the big stage,” said sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, a former five-star recruit. “And there isn’t a bigger stage than LSU versus Alabama on Saturday night.”
