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Who do you consider to be the biggest bust in LSU football history?
Posted on 7/23/25 at 12:44 am
Posted on 7/23/25 at 12:44 am
For me, it's Maason Smith. Came to LSU as the top ranked player in the state of Louisiana, a consensus 5-star and was seen as a can't miss recruit.
The reality, however, was Smith was nowhere near a 5-star and played more like a 2-star and that's being generous! Smith was so bad that teams intentionally ran at him because they knew he couldn't shed OL and was easy to move off his spot which created huge holes for RBs.
I can't tell how many times I watched an entire LSU game and didn't even know if he played in the game!
The reality, however, was Smith was nowhere near a 5-star and played more like a 2-star and that's being generous! Smith was so bad that teams intentionally ran at him because they knew he couldn't shed OL and was easy to move off his spot which created huge holes for RBs.
I can't tell how many times I watched an entire LSU game and didn't even know if he played in the game!
54
Posted on 7/23/25 at 12:55 am to homemadeshine
Clifton Garrett. Freak Johnson wasn’t all that great either.
This post was edited on 7/23/25 at 12:58 am
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:07 am to homemadeshine
Anthony Johnson
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:09 am to homemadeshine
quote:Except the reality was that he was a freshman all american, got hurt after making an incredible play as a sophomore about 5 plays into the season, then came back and struggled while still not being healthy, before getting good again later in the season (after tearing his ACL). Then he got drafted in the 2nd round and now plays in the NFL.
The reality, however, was Smith was nowhere near a 5-star and played more like a 2-star and that's being generous! Smith was so bad that teams intentionally ran at him because they knew he couldn't shed OL and was easy to move off his spot which created huge holes for RBs.
I can't tell how many times I watched an entire LSU game and didn't even know if he played in the game!
The real answers are Clifton Garrett, Travonte Valentine, Malachi (could have been a star in the NFL, but was too soft), Chris Davenport, Arik Gilbert, and Anthony Johnson.
John Emery as well, but he basically missed 2 full seasons because of injury, and a third because of grades.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:37 am to homemadeshine
Do we classify Ryan Perilloux as a bust?
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:45 am to LSUSkip
quote:
Do we classify Ryan Perilloux as a bust?
Don’t know but when he was kicked off the ten, it sent LSU into a downward spiral for qb’s for a decade (Mett was sort of an exception). I feel like if Perilloux doesn’t frick up, LSU wins another natty or two before 2019.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:51 am to LSUSkip
quote:
Do we classify Ryan Perilloux as a bust
His failure to keep his shite together was a big disappointment but on the field he was outstanding. Busts aren't named MVP of the SECCG.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:56 am to homemadeshine
Kardell “Mr. Pancake” Thomas
I remember the hype around him and how he dominated in camps when getting recruited. He just never cracked the lineup or made any impact on the team.
I will give him props for being a key guy for recruiting high profile players in this recruiting class but that’s about it.
I remember the hype around him and how he dominated in camps when getting recruited. He just never cracked the lineup or made any impact on the team.
I will give him props for being a key guy for recruiting high profile players in this recruiting class but that’s about it.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 1:58 am to SportsGuyNOLA
quote:
Russell Shepard
This still haunts me how poorly utilized he was used for LSU. He just happened to be a smaller dual threat QB in the wrong era.
Imagine if we recruited him in 2025 in this day and age of football.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 2:15 am to homemadeshine
Maason smith isn’t even remotely close. You have to be young to think this is a serious candidate.
Clifton Garrett comes to mind. I was in high school and I can’t put my finger on it but had a funny feeling Chris Davenport was going to suck.
Can we just say the entire 2023 class?!? It’s astonishing how little we got from an entire class. Thank God Austin Thomas has come in and refined our evaluations. I’ve never seen an entire class give us nothing.
Clifton Garrett comes to mind. I was in high school and I can’t put my finger on it but had a funny feeling Chris Davenport was going to suck.
Can we just say the entire 2023 class?!? It’s astonishing how little we got from an entire class. Thank God Austin Thomas has come in and refined our evaluations. I’ve never seen an entire class give us nothing.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 2:15 am to homemadeshine
Arik Gilbert. But really, even a great TE doesn't really produce a crap ton of yards. Maason Smith, and Anthony Johnson.
Trey Quinn. All I heard was about how great his hands were, but he dropped a lot of passes.
Trey Quinn. All I heard was about how great his hands were, but he dropped a lot of passes.
This post was edited on 7/23/25 at 2:20 am
Posted on 7/23/25 at 2:17 am to geauxbrown
Anthony Johnson really did have an insane amount of hype for his production 
strong candidate for how much hype surrounded him
strong candidate for how much hype surrounded him Posted on 7/23/25 at 2:17 am to PP7 for heisman
Malachi Dupre averaged 600 yards a year. While that maybe isn't 5 star, it's still a pretty productive WR.
This post was edited on 7/23/25 at 2:18 am
Posted on 7/23/25 at 2:19 am to homemadeshine
The one and only originator of the "University of LSU" thing; the TV Man himself, Travonte Valentine. 
Posted on 7/23/25 at 4:06 am to Saunson69
I have a hard time saying Gilbert was a bust. Hugely disappointing for sure, but when he was on the field, he was good.
Another guy who I thought was going to do big things but didn’t pan out was Marcel Brooks.
I’d throw Kevin Tolliver in the mix.
Another guy who I thought was going to do big things but didn’t pan out was Marcel Brooks.
I’d throw Kevin Tolliver in the mix.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 4:19 am to homemadeshine
Ryan Perrilloux
Myles Brennan
Both had potential out of this world and for whatever reason never resignated on the field.
Myles Brennan
Both had potential out of this world and for whatever reason never resignated on the field.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 4:48 am to homemadeshine
Will Arnold
Amp Hill
Amp Hill
Posted on 7/23/25 at 4:58 am to shinerfan
quote:
His failure to keep his shite together was a big disappointment but on the field he was outstanding. Busts aren't named MVP of the SECCG.
I call him a bust because his failure to contribute (getting kicked off of the team), as a QB, who is supposed to be a team leader, who had so much promise invested, and so many other quality QB recruits who went elsewhere when he signed.
This is a different case than a player at a different position who didn’t perform on the field. A promising new QB has to perform on and off of the field. He was a bust.
Posted on 7/23/25 at 5:01 am to GorgeousGeorge
I remember Tolliver having a decent season the last year he was there
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