With the departure of LSU’s No. 1 and No. 2 running backs, Domanick Davis and LaBrandon Toefield, the football team will undoubtedly be in need of some new speed.
Among the recruiting class that was ranked No. 1 by ESPN.com, CBS’s sportsline.com and FOXSports.com, two freshman running backs will fight for time on the field for the Tigers.
Alley Broussard, a 6-foot, 225-pound running back from Acadiana High School in Lafayette, was ranked No. 6 in College Football News’s list of top running backs.
Broussard finished his high school career with 1,910 yards on 290 carries. He ran for 27 touchdowns.
In a Nov. 30 high school class 5A quarterfinal game against Hahnville, Broussard scored four touchdowns in the first half. He also was a member of the state champion 4 x 400 relay track team.
Barrington Edwards also signed with LSU for the 2003 season. The 6-foot, 205-pound running back from Bowie High School in Maryland is ranked No. 5 on College Football News’s list of top running backs. He is ranked No. 21 by ESPN.com.
In his junior year of high school, Barrington rushed for 2,389 yards and 30 touchdowns.
“These guys are what we call big backs,” said Sam Nader, assistant athletic director for Football Operations. “They are real physical players and have the size to break tackles. That’s getting more important in college football.”
However, the amount of time these players will get on the field this season is uncertain. The football team will not begin full practice until August, and Nader said it takes a lot more than talent to earn a spot in the lineup, especially as a freshman.
“It’s a matter of readiness, maturity and toughness,” Nader said.
Returning players like Joseph Addai and Shyrone Carey likely will see the most action this season. Yet defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said newcomers in the running back, wide receiver and safety positions will have a chance to jump in as freshmen due to lack of established players in those positions.
Amp Hill and Dwayne Bowe are two of the top receivers from the 2003 recruiting class.
“They are two guys that were really highly recruited,” said Nader. “Both are nice size kids, very athletic.”
Hill, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, comes to LSU ranked No. 9 on College Football News’ top wide receivers list. In 2002, the 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound receiver caught 60 passes for 765 yards and eight touchdowns for First Coast High School.
Bowe, a 6-foot-4-inch, 205-pound native of Miami, Fla., is ranked No. 13 on College Football News’s list of top wide receivers.
Bowe, who began his football career as a junior in high school, finished his senior season at Norland High School with 40 passes for 822 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Craig Davis is another highly recruited receiver. The 6-foot-3-inch 185-pound New Orleans native caught 82 passes for 1,171 yards and 16 touchdowns as an O.P. Walker high school senior.
“You use so many receivers in the game,” Nader said. “These are all guys who are gonna have a chance [to play].”
Returning for the Tigers at wide receiver are junior Michael Clayton, senior Devery Henderson and sophomore Skyler Green.