Now What?

With the early signing period over, Brian Kelly now needs to assess the damage left behind by Coach O and figure out a way to right the ship.

Some have tried to comfort themselves by arguing the Tigers’ high school football recruiting is ranked so low because only 13 players were signed in the Early Signing Period, and Kelly will reduce the gap with big-name signees in February and additions from the Transfer Portal. Why was LSU unable to sign a full class? How many top-tier unsigned high school players seem to be leaning toward LSU? Two? Three?

The portal is overwhelming filled with two- and three-star players who could not make it on to the field where they were. LSU has lost nine high-ranked players to the portal and has attracted just one. And no, another Joe Burrow will not be arriving any time soon. The portal is not the long-term solution.

Kelly must quickly complete his coaching staff and restructure LSU’s recruiting. The Tigers offered scholarships to 23 Louisiana high schoolers. Three are still unsigned and half of the remaining 20 went out-of-state. To compound the problem, LSU signed just two of 56 offered players in Florida, a kicker from Michigan and not a single player from any other state.

Because the state of Indiana has so little leading high-school talent, Notre Dame historically has relied on nation-wide recruiting. This year’s 21-member Irish class comes from 17 different states. Perhaps Kelly can shore up LSU’s recruiting dominance in Louisiana and reestablish the Tiger’s appeal elsewhere.

247Sports.com also ranks Notre Dame’s offensive line and linebacker units the best in the 2022 recruiting class. LSU has had a chronic weakness in filling these positions in recent years and perhaps Kelly’s presence will help alleviate that problem.
The next year should be interesting to see how he does.