Commitments increase to 23
   
   Recruiting is the name of the game in college football. A college program needs good players to compete on a national level.
With national signing day looming a week away on Feb. 6, LSU head coach Nick Saban and his staff are making some last ditch efforts to attract some of the most talented high school players in the country to come play for the Tigers.
Since the beginning of the Spring semester, the Tigers have addressed many needs through recruiting.
Despite published reports, LSU commitment Jay Kirkland, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman from New Albany, Miss., has not de-committed and will attend LSU next fall.
Kirkland’s mother has been battling cancer, and he was concerned about being over six hours away from her while at school. Ole Miss, on the other hand, is less than 30 minutes from his home.
But according to Matt Deville of Purple and Gold magazine, Saban and Kirkland made an agreement that Kirkland can go home any time he needs to see his mother.
Also, the Tigers have received other commitments from several players within the past week
One of them is Peter Dyakowski, a 6-foot-4, 290 –pound offensive tackle from Vancouver, Canada.
Dyakowski is fully qualified and picked the Tigers over Oregon State and Boise State.
LSU also picked up a commitment from Alonzo Manuel, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end from Jennings, La.
Manuel will give the Tigers some much needed depth along the offensive line.
Willie Demps, an all-state linebacker from Pensacola-Booker T. Washington High School in Florida pledged his services to the Tigers after Saban made an in-home visit with him.
Demps visited LSU last weekend and decided to become a Tiger.
The Tigers also landed Dominique Owens, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back from Sugarland, Texas.
Owens, who attended Kempner High School, needs to improve his ACT score before next Fall to qualify for admission at LSU.
LSU added another linebacker commitment when Holy Cross’ Ryan Willis made the verbal pledge.
Willis is a Tiger fan who was just waiting for a scholarship offer to commit.
Also, Paris Hodges, a 6-foot-6, 330-pounder from Fairfield, Calif., has committed to the Tigers to play offensive line.
These players bring LSU’s verbal commitment total to 23.
Also, Saban will be making an in-home visit to Tallahassee, Fla. offensive lineman Brian Johnston either Wednesday or Thursday.
Johnston has narrowed his choices down to LSU and Arkansas.