Both McDowell (1/24)and Carter(1/17) have LSU OVs scheduled in January. McDowell after his OV to Alabama on 12/9 said they set the bar for the rest of them. He is the #1 recruit from Michigan and in his video interview on YouTube LINK he emphasizes Michigan graduating 100% of their football players and 99% of their African American class. So he is a scholar athlete who plans on playing 4 yrs, my favorite kind - recruit gets a scholarship, a shot at the NFL, and a degree for life. At 6'7" 290 lbs he is ranked #36 on 247, recently voted an All-American, his star is rising, 4 spots below the last 5 star, 8 spots behind recent commit Clifton Garrett. He is ranked #2 in the nation at SDE or DT. IMHO he is so close to earning his 5th star it is likely, especially with a good US ARMY All-American Bowl Game Jan 4th on NBC. On 11/18 it was reported on NOLA: "LSU defensive line coach Brick Haley took a trip to see the prospect a few days ago and word is that it was an outstanding meeting, according to sources. McDowell has family in Louisiana and his coach said the visit from Haley had McDowell giddy in a way that he has not seen. Expect McDowell to make a visit to Baton Rouge in the near future and the Tigers to be a major contender for his services." By the way with the air of uncertainty coming out of TTown recruits, the bar they set a few weeks ago might very well be a whole lot lower if recruits keep de-committing and flipping.

Lorenzo Carter is the #1 recruit in the state of Georgia and the #12 overall recruit in the nation. There has been a lot of chatter on the board about Lorenzo Carter being a long shot. A couple of days ago I Googled him and found an article referencing a video that tells why Carter is 'Hot For LSU'. The Video was posted online by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and I downloaded and saved it to my computer: "No. 1 Lorenzo Carter Unplugged on his recruiting". The ESPN interviewer was shocked when he said his first OV would be to LSU. ESPN asked how did LSU get into it. Carter said "I've always had a good relationship with coach Miles and felt good about him as a coach..and coach Haley came for an in home visit and he had a great impact on on my parents. And I mean that defense They Send Defensive Ends to the League." (Big Smile and smug grin) ESPN, churlish and incredulous asked HOW did this happen, did LSU come out of nowhere or were they there all along. Carter, still smiling "Well I have always had LSU in my top 5, but it was a surprise to me that they jumped like they did (happy smile) because I wasn't expecting to go to Baton Rouge, but I mean Coach Haley did his job (big happy smile)". Then after shrugging off Alabama as having fallen off and really looking disinterested and not really planning to visit them, he said Coach Miles was coming Mid January for a home visit. Although he said it was a Georgia / Florida Gators top two, the door is now wide open for LSU. LINK

Watch the video. The enthusiasm is centered around the new surprise push and opportunity at LSU and the fact that we put Defensive players in the league, impressed his parents and he respects/likes the coaches. All the recruits have to also know the kind of class that is coming together this year. It is important to note how little enthusiasm he showed in the rest of the interview and that whoever wants them the most is a factor for both these men. Clifton Garrett committing so definitively and early, a #1 out of state recruit/recruiter set an example, as well as the outspoken networking of the other recruit/recruiters, some extra chemistry, positive energy, and momentum this year without coaching uncertainty.

At low Tide all sorts of hidden treasures turn up. To Coach Miles and Coach Haley Cheers to Illinois, Michigan, and Georgia #1 in state and top national recruits.

This post was edited on 12/23/13 at 1:32 am