ESPN Dishes Out National Signing Day Grade For LSU

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LSU Tigers

Grade: A | National rank: 7

The Tigers signed the fourth-best class in the conference, and it's in the top 10 nationally. Ed Orgeron and staff had success keeping key in-state talent close to home, winning three of the top four prospects in Louisiana: No. 1 RB John Emery, ESPN 300 CB Derek Stingley Jr. and ESPN 300 OG Kardell Thomas. ESPN 300 ATH Devonta Lee was a nice signing day win over SEC foes. In-state upside OT Ray Parker is a second ESPN 300 OL in the fold. Charles Turner is an OL out of IMG Academy in Florida with physical upside who projects to center for the Tigers. They have landed a commitment from one of the top prospects in Tennessee, ESPN 300 CB Maurice Hampton, who doubles as a baseball star. ESPN 300 linebackers Marcel Brooks and Donte Starks will bring speedy playmaking to Baton Rouge. ESPN 300 DT Siaki Ika out of Utah will be the next difference-making defensive tackle for the Tigers. Running back is a major need in the 2019 cycle, and along with Emery, the Tigers signed Tyrion Davis, a strong, powerful runner and key in-state pickup. That said, it might be ESPN 300 Peter Parrish out of Alabama who has LSU fans most excited because of all the questions surrounding the quarterback position the past few seasons. Parrish will have ESPN 300 in-state WR Trey Palmer as a future target. Four-star juco TE T.K. McClendon could play from Week 1.

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