In the fifth century B.C., the Chinese Empire built the Great Wall of China to prevent nomadic tribes from invading their territory. In 2005, head football coach Les Miles tried to build his own Great Wall around Louisiana to prevent other schools from stealing the state’s elite recruits.
So far, it’s working.
Of the 17 commitments LSU has received from the class of 2011, 12 are from the Bayou State. Half of the state’s top 10 prospects have committed to LSU, and only one, wide receiver Bradley Sylve of Port Sulphur, chose a different school — Alabama.  
“That’s always what Miles said when he came in,” said Shea Dixon, managing editor of TigerSportsDigest.com. “He was going to put a gate around the state line and keep everything locked in, and so far he’s done that.”
Louisiana has always had a reputation for fostering some of the nation’s top football talent. NFL superstars Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning all hail from the state, but Dixon believes this year’s class could be something special.
“This season they have [an elite recruit] at almost every single position that can rank up there among the top 15 or 20 guys in the country,” Dixon said.
New running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson has been pivotal in locking up some of the state’s top talent. The New Orleans native coached at O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans before embarking on his collegiate coaching career.
“He’s the lifeblood of the day-to-day grind,” Dixon said. “He’s one of the one or two best recruiters in the country. To have him back in his own home state recruiting the same high schools he was brought up in — a lot of coaches like to see that.”
Even with the early success in the class of 2011, work still remains for LSU. Several of the top in-state recruits have yet to select a school.
The top uncommitted recruit in Louisiana, according to Scout.com, is five-star defensive end Jermauria Rasco. The Shreveport native recorded 109 tackles and 12 sacks for Evangel Christian Academy his junior season.
Texas, Florida State and Alabama join LSU atop his interest list. Dixon said that nobody knows where he will land.
“Everyone’s just wondering what it is going to take to push him in the right direction,” Dixon said. “You don’t really know where his head’s at.”
Greg Robinson, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive lineman from Thibodaux, also remains undecided about his collegiate destination. Robinson played offensive line for the first time his junior season and received a four-star rating from Scout.com.
Robinson lists LSU and Auburn as his top choices. Last season, Robinson’s former teammate, wide receiver Trovon Reed, chose Auburn over LSU, and Dixon believes losing Robinson could signal an undesirable pattern.
“That put a certain spotlight under Robinson because now you’re battling to make sure something doesn’t become a trend,” Dixon said.
Four-star athlete Odell Beckham from New Orleans, who projects as a cornerback or wide receiver, could be another key pickup for LSU, Dixon said. Following in his father’s footsteps, who played for the Tigers from 1989-91, could factor heavily into his decision.
“I think they’ve got that relationship with the University,” Dixon said. “And not that they’re pressuring him, but it’s there. I think that will push him in the right direction for LSU.”
Although National Signing Day still remains more than five months away, ESPN already ranks LSU as the No. 5 class in the nation. Dixon said adding the rest of the in-state talent could push the class to the top.
“If they can get all these guys in the state this year, they’ll have an extremely good foundation for the future,” he said.
 
 
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]