Optimism abounds with Miles

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN

Let’s start this with a statement from LSU coach Les Miles about his current recruiting class — because Miles is coming strong — and go from there.

“One of the greatest classes ever. Certainly at LSU and possibly nationally. Potentially, it’s a great class. It’s a class that will vie for a national championship maybe several times over the next several years.”

That’s that. Word for word. Les Miles, unfiltered and "damn" strong.

Even with media wranglers lurking and in a time when coaches choose words like a lawyer to avoid later blowback, Miles let loose.

A little 8-5 season isn’t going to take away his shine.

Underlying the optimism, ESPNU moved LSU to its top spot in class rankings earlier this week. LSU has been No. 1 on Rivals.com for a while. And LSU rates No. 2 (behind Ohio State) on Scout.com.

Miles said LSU was pursuing what he called “a historic class, one of the greatest classes ever. Certainly, that’s our intent. That’s where we’re headed. That’s how we’re approaching the back end.”

The big prize still out there, especially with LSU needing to replace its top two receivers, is Bastrop High receiver Rueben Randle, a top-five prospect at any position and No. 1 at his spot.

West Monroe High linebacker Barkevious Mingo visits this weekend. He’ll also visit Alabama. Meanwhile, running back Trent Richardson, from Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia High, will visit next weekend, even though he’s a Bama commitment.

“I can tell you, in this state, there are some key members of what could be in this class we have to lock up and finish strong with,” Miles said. “I think we’re in position. I think the class, potentially, can be just what we need.”

Until LSU gets the signed letters of intent starting Feb. 4, NCAA rules prohibit Miles from naming names, of course. Miles can’t even go so far as to randomly discussing, say, Rueben R. or Barkevious M. He can, however, talk about his team’s need at receiver.

“There isn’t any question. What we need are those receivers who have a big presence in the secondary, have the stature to compete for balls, big strong, tall, athletic men,” Miles said. “We really don’t have enough of those.

“A young receiver with strength and presence could play very quickly.”

For sure, Miles has landed megatalent Russell Shepard, who enrolled for classes Monday, along with two four-star players from Georgia in running back/athlete Drayton Calhoun and linebacker Kevin Minter.

Plus, Miles did some beaming about the rebuilt defensive staff, headlined by coordinator John Chavis, introduced Friday.

File away Miles’ optimism about this class, that these future Tigers, named and unnamed, will compete for a national title — wait, he said national titles — in their collegiate years.

In part, that could be a bit of a recruiting pitch. In whole, though, that’s going on out on a limb all the way to the end.

Now, will that limb prove to be a "damn" strong one?