The 2009 LSU football recruiting class was ranked as one of the three best in the country by ESPNU.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com, and the 2010 class has 22 commitments nearly five months before National Signing Day.But the 2011 class may be better than both.”Strictly  on paper, the 2011 class  could be one of the most top-heavy classes since 2001,” said Sonny Shipp, recruiting analyst for Scout. “The 2011 class is going to be a special class.”Nine Louisiana high school juniors have been extended scholarship offers by the Tigers, according to Scout — defensive linemen Anthony Johnson and Jermauria Rasco, offensive linemen La’el Collins and Corey White, running backs Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard and wide receivers Bradley Sylve, Jarvis Landry and Alonzo Lewis. Many out-of-state recruits have also received offers from the Tigers.”There’s already nine in-state kids that have gotten early offers from LSU,” Shipp said. “That’s unheard of. You’re talking about nine kids this year compared to one kid last year.”The hype for the class stems from Collins, Landry, Johnson and Hilliard — all of whom are already on the Scout 100 list for 2011.”It’s been a long time since Louisiana has had that many players crack that list this early,” Shipp said.Hilliard, nephew of former LSU and Saints running back Dalton Hilliard, has six offers from teams such as Alabama, Tennessee and Notre Dame. Shipp said the Tigers are the team to beat for the running back. The 6-foot, 217-pound prospect runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash to match his size.Collins also racked up a slew of offers, and the Redemptorist product earned four-star status before his junior season.Johnson is committed to Tennessee, but with two years remaining at O. Perry Walker High SchoolLandry is one of the most electrifying players in all of high school football. The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound wide receiver has been impressing coaches and scouts for years. The Lutcher native totaled 410 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore for the state champion Bulldogs.”I’ve been doing this for quite some time, and I’ve seen some tremendous receivers,” said Lutcher coach Tim Detillier. “I’ve never seen a receiver more talented than Jarvis Landry.”Hill, Sylve, Lewis, White and Rasco add depth to an already quality 2011 class. Shipp said Rasco may be a close call for the Tigers, but the others are leaning LSU.The LSU coaches were quick to offer these recruits nearly a year and a half before they could sign a letter of intent.”When you’ve got guys that are as good as these kids are, it’s easy to offer them early,” Shipp said. “It takes less time to evaluate good talents than it is to evaluate average talent.”Shipp said even though they have offers, the recruits will take their time before jumping on their first instinct. He said they may take their time and utilize their official visits.”It’s a different ballgame when these kids are already getting offers from Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Florida and Florida State,” Shipp said. “Some of these kids like the thought of going to Gainesville or South Bend for a weekend. That can be enticing for kids that haven’t done a lot of traveling.” Shipp said the 2011 class won’t have its first official verbal commitment until the 2010 class has signed letters of intent.”Right now the guys I’ve talked to that are leaning LSU, I think you’re looking around the lines of Junior Day, early February or March before they commit,” Shipp said.—-Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]