Not all of LSU’s projected 2017 signing class sent in their letters of intent Wednesday.
Four-star wide receiver Stephen Guidry tweeted on Wednesday morning he would not be signing with LSU. The top junior college wide receiver will play another season at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi.
“We lost some guys in the end that we’re very disappointed in, but we feel that we have a great recruiting class,” coach Ed Orgeron said.
Guidry’s non-signing leaves LSU with two receivers in this year’s recruiting class with four-star Mannie Netherly and three-star Racey McMath.
Jenkins did not participate in recruiting
Orgeron’s mentor and defensive line coach did not accompany coaches on the recruiting trail.
Defensive line coach Pete Jenkins did not visit or contact prospects. Orgeron did not give a specific reason for Jenkins’ absence.
“Here’s what I have to say: We got the guys we want,” Orgeron said. “We’re happy to have the guys we want. The guys we didn’t want, we’ll play against them. Pete Jenkins is a great coach.”
Instead, LSU general manager Austin Thomas received an NCAA exemption to recruit in place of Jenkins. Thomas, who took a job at USC last February, decided to return to LSU in May.
Thomas had been at LSU four years and was promoted to assistant athletic director in late spring of 2016. He helped the Tigers finish in the top five of recruiting classes in 2014 and 2015.
He helped recruit multiple players on the trail, according to Orgeron.
“Thomas went in Nashville himself and recruited two five-star athletes in JaCoby Stevens and Jacob Phillips,” Orgeron said. “We think the world of Dennis Johnson and Austin Thomas.”
“Meatball” brings in five-star linebacker
A coach with the nickname of “meatball” pulled in the biggest signee of the day for LSU.
Outside linebackers coach Dennis Johnson brought in five-star linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson from Houston, Texas.
“Dennis Johnson is an up-and-coming coach and did a great job of recruiting K’Lavon Chaisson,” Orgeron said. “He was very close to some other great players. The coaches love him, the players love him and he’s a fantastic coach.”
LSU was the first school to offer Chaisson back in June of 2015. Orgeron reminded him of that while out on the recruiting trail.
“We felt like we got the best pass rusher in the country,” Orgeron said. “He’ll remind you a lot of Arden Key.”
Potential graduate transfer signing soon
After missing out on four targets, LSU finished the day with 23 signees overall. Orgeron remains optimistic about the situation.
It leaves room for Orgeron to find a few graduate transfers in the coming weeks.
“We’re looking at a couple of guys that are going to be eligible,” Orgeron said. “We may sign a guy in a week or two. It could save room for flexibility in the 2018 class.”