Freshmen defensive lineman Josh Downs and wide receiver Rueben Randle were both stars in the 2009 recruiting class, but the former Bastrop High School teammates took two different paths on their way to becoming Tigers.Downs’ recruiting strategy has become more popular across the country, as he committed a year before National Signing Day in 2009, while Randle’s last-minute decision is fading out among recruits.High school prospects across the nation are committing earlier than past years. LSU’s 2010 recruiting class already has 22 commitments before the opening game, nine more than the hallowed 2009 class had at the same time. The 2008, 2007 and 2006 classes had just 15, 12 and nine players locked up at the same date, according to Scout.com.The Tigers are not the only school to jump early on recruits. Texas has gotten an early start on their 2010 class as well, landing 22 prospects before the end of March 2009.”Recruiting is becoming earlier and earlier,” said Don Yanowsky, LSU’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. “It’s like that across the nation. It’s an ongoing process that we continue working on.”Instead of strategically evaluating colleges and choosing a school after many visits, high school recruits are increasingly taking advantage of opportunities and committing before they even step on the field for their high school senior seasons.Coaches and recruiters are inviting high school players to visit their campus as early as their sophomore year of high school. The increased emphasis on camps and Junior Days have sped up the recruiting process.”The camps are a big part of why there are so many early commitments,” said Rene Nadeau, college football analyst for ESPN and TigerVision. “Camps now give a lot of exposure to the schools, and the coaches are able to see these kids up close a lot sooner. You can get [the commitment] over with.”Emphasis has switched from highlight tapes to one-on-one interactions with the coaches themselves. Nadeau said Scout three-star defensive tackle Elliot Porter got his scholarship to LSU based on what he did at a summer camp.  If a scholarship is offered, recruits are advised to take it in order to hold their spot. Numbers are even more limited, as a new Southeastern Conference rule this year states schools can only sign 28 players, allowing 25 to enroll. “I try to get them to visit the schools they are interested in as a junior so they are not pushed into a five week window,” said Bastrop coach Brad Bradshaw. “It comes down to a numbers game. They know the numbers [schools] can take, and if [recruits] get in, you get in.”Things changed for recruiting the past few years. Instead of taking their time and committing after taking official visits their senior season, recruits are increasingly committing early and then visiting colleges.But pledging before National Signing Day is only a verbal commitment, and recruits still have months to change their minds.”You play the percentages,” Nadeau said. “If a better opportunity comes along, a kid may switch. It’s not right, but it happens.”The cutthroat nature of recruiting is a two-way street between the prospects and schools.”There could be a couple of players that could back out,” Nadeau said. “Either the player could back out or LSU could back out.”Last year LSU was on the negative side when Tennessee cornerback Janzen Jackson altered on his commitment. Jackson was committed to the Tigers until he signed with the Volunteers right before National Signing Day.”Janzen Jackson did not indicate at all he was going to Tennessee,” Nadeau said. “He left a void there. Had he told LSU, they would have got another cornerback.”
 
 
 
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