When it comes to football, the state of Florida produces some of the biggest, fastest and strongest college recruits in the nation.
LSU has been successful in tapping into that talent pool. Current defensive starters Patrick Peterson, Ryan Baker and Karnell Hatcher all hail from the Sunshine State.
This year, though, not a single commitment in the 2011 class comes from Florida. That could change as five Florida prospects have shown recent interest in LSU.
Three players from Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., will visit Baton Rouge on Nov. 6 for LSU’s game against Alabama. Linebacker Curt Maggitt, quarterback Jacoby Brissett and tight end Nick O’Leary will all make the trip to see the Tigers take on the Crimson Tide.
LSU had success recruiting players from Florida last year, signing two Florida recruits in the class of 2010. That trend continued with Avery Johnson, a Pompano Beach, Fla., native, becoming the Tigers’ first commitment for the 2012 class.
“LSU has always kind of had a foot in that pond over there,” said Derek Ponamsky, Rivals.com recruiting analyst. “They’ve always gotten players to come in from Florida. It’s a very talented state, and it’s not just wide, but it’s deep as well.”
Ponamsky said it’s interesting to have three elite prospects come from the same high school.
“Obviously it speaks to the level of talent they have down there [at Dwyer High School],” Ponamsky said. “It also creates interesting scenarios on the recruiting front.”
Some have speculated the three recruits may be a package deal for some schools, but Ponamsky sees them as three individuals instead of as one group.
Maggitt ranks as the No. 17 outside linebacker in the country, according to Scout.com, and recorded 11 sacks as a defensive lineman during his junior season. Shea Dixon, managing editor of TigerSportsDigest.com, said the 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pounder projects as a linebacker in college.
“Maggitt would be someone that could play early and have some plays drawn up for him,” Dixon said. “He’s got a blend of size and speed for a middle linebacker, and he’s a guy that could play on the outside.”
Brissett, who also plays AAU basketball, ranks as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, according to Rivals. Brissett threw for 1,463 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. LSU’s mediocre passing offense this season may actually help the Tigers land the four-star quarterback, Dixon said.
“LSU’s in a spot with Brissett where they can sell him to come in next year and compete, or come in in a couple years and start,” Dixon said.
O’Leary, who is the grandson of legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, received a four-star rating from Rivals and ranks as the top tight end in the country. The 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pounder has also shown interest in Alabama and Wisconsin, but Dixon believes he is a lock for Florida State.
“If [Maggitt and Brissett] don’t want to go to Florida State, I can still see O’Leary going to Florida State,” Dixon said. “That’s just how it’s played out.”
Two players from Northwestern High School in Miami have also said they plan to visit LSU in the coming months.
Three-star wide receiver Eli Rogers recently decommitted from the University of Miami because of concerns with the Hurricanes’ offense. Rogers has reopened his recruiting, and Dixon said he plans to visit LSU after his season concludes.
Ponamsky said LSU doesn’t have a great need for wide receivers, which may limit its interest in Rogers.
“The coaches are going to do their job and recruit as many players up until Signing Day,” Ponamsky said. “But I don’t know that if Rogers called tonight, if he would be a guy that LSU would take.”
Rogers’ teammate and four-star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater committed to Miami in June but has reportedly been wavering on his decision after attending the Hurricanes’ 45-17 loss to Florida State on Oct. 9. Dixon said Bridgewater plans on visiting LSU with Rogers in December.
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]