With National Signing Day quickly approaching, LSU is ranked No. 6 in the nation and still targeting several five and four star prospects.
The Tigers have 21 commits and have room for more come Wednesday.
“Unlike Alabama or Georgia, which holds 25 and 23 commits, respectively, the Tigers have room and are going to make it count,” said Sam Spiegelman, a sports journalist for SEC Country.
Prospects like five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson and four stars linebacker Tyler Taylor and Willie Gay, four stars wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Nico Collins and have received offers from LSU and are still undecided.
LSU will be in a tug-of-war with other schools like University of Alabama, University of Georgia, Auburn University and University of Texas.
Four-star safety Todd Harris and four-star defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis are both Louisiana natives, but visited Alabama on Jan. 20.
Mathis will announce his decision on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and is deciding between LSU, Alabama and TCU.
Although Alabama is notorious for stealing Louisiana players, many analysts have Mathis leaning toward LSU. Harris is deciding between LSU, Alabama, TCU and Arizona State.
Harris is announcing his intentions on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Four-star defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson is undecided between LSU and University of Texas. With the Longhorns hiring former University of Houston coach Tom Herman, Chaisson is expected to sign with Texas.
“Chaisson has been linked to Tom Herman dating back to his time at Houston,” Spiegelman said. “Despite LSU being his first offer.”
LSU, Georgia and Auburn are competing for four-star defensive end Markaviest Bryant and Taylor. Both LSU prospects are from from Georgia. Bryant is said to be leaning toward Georgia but there is still uncertainty, according to multiple recruiting sites.
Taylor is predicted to sign with LSU.
“It’s [recruiting class rank] only going to surge from here on out,” Spiegelman said. “LSU is in the mix for some of the premier uncommitted recruits left in the nation. Of those targets, hitting on five of these types of prospects should lift LSU to the top four with ease.”
Spiegelman expects three-star defensive tackle Neil Farrell, who is a current LSU commitment, to flip and leave LSU on National Signing Day.
“One prospect that is on my flip radar is three-star commit Neil Farrell,” Spiegelman said. “He was at Florida State the final weekend in January and was high on the offer when he secured it back in July.”
As for the 21 players who have already committed to LSU, six of them are early enrollees.
Five-star safety JaCoby Stevens and four stars offensive tackle Austin Deculus, quarterback Lowell Narcisse, safety Grant Delpit, wide receiver Mannie Netherly and defensive end Justin Thomas enrolled at LSU early to get a head start on practice and conditioning and possible playing time in September.
“Austin Deculus should compete for the starting left guard job,” Spiegelman said. “JaCoby Stevens and Grant Delpit should compete to replace Jamal Adams and Rickey Jefferson, and both blue-chip defensive backs will find roles in Corey Raymond’s 2017 rotation.”
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron stands on stage with Buffalo Wild Wings executive vice president, president North America Judith A. Shoulak (left) on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, during the Tigers' 29-9 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl win against Louisville at Camping World Stadium in Florida.
