LSU fans didn’t need a fortune teller to see the future of the football team this weekend.The large number of high school recruits at the LSU-Florida game acted as a crystal ball. At least 40 football recruits and many prospects for other LSU sports visited Baton Rouge this weekend for official or unofficial visits, according to Scout.com.”Anytime you get kids on campus, it’s a big plus,” said Sonny Shipp, Louisiana recruiting analyst for Scout. “To have them in for such an important game and the largest crowd in history, it adds to their overall experience.”Six football recruits for the 2010 recruiting class took one of their five official visits at the LSU-Florida game. Three of the recruits have already pledged to the Tigers — offensive tackle Evan Washington and wide receivers Mike Davis and Justin Hunter.Another three high school seniors are still considering LSU — cornerbacks Joshua Shaw and John Fulton and defensive lineman Cassius Marsh.Marsh was once a California commitment, but likes LSU because he has family in Baton Rouge.Shaw and Fulton are two of the best cornerbacks in the nation, ranked No. 15 and No. 5, respectively, by Scout. LSU already has commitments from cornerbacks Ronnie Vinson, Tharold Simon and Tyrann Mathieu.Many 2010 recruits decided to unofficially visit Baton Rouge. Some of them have already committed to the Tigers, while others have yet to make their decision. Scout five-star running back Lache Seastrunk and in-state wide receivers Trovon Reed and James Wright used the visit to see how LSU stacked up against their other choices.Seastrunk, a Scout five-star recruit and No. 2 running back in the nation, has offers from countless schools, but LSU, Texas and Auburn are his leaders. The Temple, Texas, native rushed for 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns his junior season.Reed is one of the best in-state players still on the Tigers’ radar for 2010. The Thibodaux High School wide receiver narrowed his choice to LSU, Florida and Auburn.Wright, a Belle Chasse High School product, compared the LSU-Florida matchup to two Texas schools.”It was wild for a college game,” Wright told Scout. “LSU just gets a lot of support from the fans. After going to Texas Tech and Texas earlier, LSU was more intense and they were also louder.”Scout three-star wide receiver Jarrett Fobbs has committed to Texas A&M, but he was impressed with the atmosphere Saturday night.”It was crazy out there,” Fobbs told Scout. “I had no idea it would be that crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it.”LSU coach Les Miles’ 2010 recruiting class already has 22 commitments, with space for only six more. Shipp said the Tigers are likely to add four or five recruits.LSU already began locking up commitments for the 2011 class. Redemptorist running back Jeremy Hill and offensive lineman La’el Collins accepted the Tigers’ offer Sept. 28.Many high school juniors made the trip to the Red Stick, including in-state phenoms wide receiver Jarvis Landry and running back Kenny Hilliard.Landry, a Lutcher High School standout, and Hilliard, a Patterson High School star, are on the Scout 100 for 2011. Shipp said LSU is the school to beat for both.Shipp said the Tigers’ 13-3 loss might weigh on some recruits.”It could affect some guys,” Shipp said. “But a lot of guys look at it as a opportunity for more playing time.”—–Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]
Football: Recruits experience Death Valley
October 10, 2009