The LSU football team ended its season with two straight losses, but Nick Saban has already scored some major victories in the high school recruiting battle.
The Tigers have already received verbal commitments from 16 high school seniors according to theinsiders.com. Two of those commitments are ranked in Tom Lemming’s top 100 class of 2003 on ESPN.com.
Robert Lane (6-3, 225) from Neville High School in Monroe verbally committed to LSU in August 2002. He is ranked 10th overall and third among high school quarterbacks in the nation, according to Lemming.
Lane had 117 completions in 222 attempts while passing for 16 touchdowns and six interceptions during his senior season. He also rushed for 867 yards on 141 carries.
Lane said the presence of the LSU coaching staff during recruiting was a major factor.
“They made me feel like I was the one they wanted,” said Lane. “They came to practices and games.”
Lane’s passing ability will be welcomed after LSU finished the season ranked ninth in passing offense in the SEC.
The Tigers received another verbal commitment at the quarterback position from Matt Flynn in June 2002. Flynn (6-3, 218) from Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, is listed 24th in Lemming’s rankings of top quarterbacks.
“He is a leader who does not force passes and who sees the whole field,” Lemming said.
The departure of Domanick Davis and LaBrandon Toefield has made room for some newcomers at the running back position.
Alley Broussard (6-1, 226) from Acadiana High School in Lafayette verbally committed to LSU in April 2002. Lemming’s list ranks Broussard 39th overall and seventh among tailbacks nationally. He had 290 carries for 1,910 yards and 28 touchdowns in his senior season.
Broussard said he chose LSU because of the program’s great tradition and close proximity to his home.
“Ever since I was little, I wanted to play football at LSU,” Broussard said.
Two more tailbacks recently verbally committed to LSU.
Barrington Edwards (6-0, 211) from Bowie High School in Maryland verbally committed to LSU on Jan. 4, 2003. Lemming has him ranked 10th in the nation among tailbacks and first in the state of Maryland. Edwards rushed for 2,300 yards his junior season but only rushed for 750 yards his senior season due to a change in the coaching staff and a wide-open passing philosophy, according to a report by The Advocate.
Daniel Francis (5-11, 185) from Port Barre High School verbally committed to LSU in December 2002. Francis rushed 151 times for 1,358 yards and 21 touchdowns his senior season.
On the defensive side of the ball, LSU recently received verbal commitments from two linebackers.
Ben Henderson (6-1, 220) of Joliet Junior College in Illinois verbally committed to the Tigers in November 2002. He is called “one of the top linebackers in the Junior College ranks” by theinsiders.com.
Darius Ingram (6-3, 220) from Tenaha High School in Texas verbally committed to the Tigers on Jan. 8, 2003. Theinsiders.com said, “He has amazing speed and quickness and is a vicious hitter.” The Web site also calls him “one of the top linebacker prospects in the state of Texas.”
Nick Saban and his coaching staff will be recruiting until National Signing Day on Feb. 5. If the Tigers can land a few more top prospects, the LSU recruiting class of 2003 could be ranked No. 1 nationally.