re: Do we sign a full class of 25 this year?

Too early for that question with the 3 most exciting weeks happening right now.

I bet they sign as many as they can and more when possible, just too many gaps to fill with 23 early NFL exits the last 2 yrs. The OU Bama game reminded me of the D we used to have with TM7, Mingo, Montgomery, Minter, Simon, Edwards, Claiborne, Logan, and Reid sacking and intercepting the QB.

Many top recruits are going to wait until NSD, which gives the coaches and commits 3 extra weeks to work their magic and all the fans three weeks to await the outcome.

The 30+ prime targets include 5 more 5*s, and the additional 12+ high interests include some recruits that have been made offers.

A lot of the 30+ prime targets and 15+ interests, including 5 5*s, have not even taken their OVs yet and we have 3 weekends left. It doesn't hurt that our 18 commits have moved up to #4 @ 247 and #5 @ ESPN by getting recognition they deserve.

In addition there are recruits and commits looking around and re-evaluating their choices as always. Tide coaching changes resulting from disapproval of Saban's taking all the credit, money, and none of the blame, spawned tales of a toxic atmosphere where players are reportedly telling recruits to reevaluate. Their deck is going to shuffle downward.

Our 1/3 empty class is an opportunity and no different than the 2009 class where the top 1/3 did not visit until late Jan or commit until the day before or day of NSD. We have far, far more really good candidates than we can take. Up to 12 prospects are expected to be in town this weekend including Dupre, Carter, Speaks, Kelly

5 5*s the staff have been working on: Malik McDowell, Lorenzo Carter, Malachi Dupre, Adoree Jackson, and Chad Thomas

The coaches first visits after the dead period should show they are wasting no time: Carter on the 17th and McDowell on the 24th have yet to take their OVs. Miles (and Haley?) are reportedly doing in home visits with them today and tomorrow. Per 247 If Georgia and Michigan lose these two it will be like us losing LF7. It ought to be really crowded around Malik with all the northern schools and even Bama also reportedly trying to visit him before he goes to FSU this weekend. I bet he wishes he had narrowed some of them down by now - just can't say no. FSU and Bama will have to find a way to make room for all the recruits they are targeting with only a spot or two open at each school. Losing top recruits is just the ticket to make more room.

Our coaches are also still in mutual contact with 5* Chad Thomas (#99 Montgomery/Mingo protege) the 5th five star in the stellar group of recruiting targets and a long time LSU fan. CHAD & LSU

Dupre and other recruits have been recruiting Adoree Jackson to LSU for 3 months. Adoree & Family @ LSU Why would Dupre recruit for us, hang out with Miles and our commits and not commit? I cannot be sure Adoree comes here unless he gets offered a real concrete plan to support his 2016 Olympics dreams, especially if he is as serious as Tony Brown, and the opportunity to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball. I like him better than Noil, far more open.

We don't want a repeat of "how did we lose Brown especially with his sister here and him preferring to go to school with her"...still hard to believe especially since he spelled out how he would make his choice very clearly in the article "2016 Olympics weighing heavily on the mind of 2014 LSU CB target Tony Brown." Brown Recruiting Stipulations for Olympics

Per Brown he is an Olympic track athlete first and football second. In the link above he said:

"My ultimate goal is to win the Olympics. I don't think I'll stop until I win the Olympics. If I go to the Olympics, that's all fine but if I don't win, I'll be training for the next three years so I can make the next one."

Only a school that will help further Brown's track career will be considered in the mix.

"First and foremost, I have to be able to come in January and run track," Brown said when asked what was the most important thing he was looking for in a school. "That's what I want to do – come in in January and run track and not have to worry about missing out on anything in football because I know I can go to meetings and things like that.

"If that's not possible, I couldn't go to that school... And if a school has a plan for me to get to Rio in 2016, then that definitely boosts them up my list. But if they can just get me ready for the NCAA (championships) then that's fine, also."

However, because of his recurring shoulder injuries and risk of other injuries he may never play a football game and jeopardize the 2 Olympics he plans to compete in over the next 7 years. He enrolled early to train for the NCAA, not practice football.

Saban lost Jameis Winston to FSU because Winston said Fisher was the only one to guarantee him a unified plan to play baseball. Why Winston chose FSU Scroll down to the Winston video and read text above and below the video.

Saban was not going to lose the same way twice. He must have offered something far above and beyond, abetter Quid Pro Quo for his services. I personally don't see the best hurdler in the country throwing his injured shoulder into anyone on a football field but certainly wish him well and wish he had been P&G & track & field with his sister.

If you have specific information on how we lost Tony Brown, feel free to add to this. It may be important to fully understand in order to improve the chances of landing Adoree. Adoree is the best long jumper in California, wants to play offense and defense, and wants to go to the Olympics.

To complete the discussion of the 5* LA stars that got away, Speedy and GWIII were promised positions they wanted to play, but likely won't, and likely boosted with bling and swag. Again, good luck.

Dedicated to the "we will never fill this class up" crowd with the dead period just ending and the coaches working their asses off and the last 3 weekends full of visitors. SOL we are SOL!!

Dupre
Valentine
Young
Gage
Surprise Dlineman
Kelly
Lose Clark

23

If we sign 25 some of the final 7 will never see significant playing time, if not most of them