LSU "Misses"

Instead of talking about the 22 great players LSU did sign this year in a class that finished 4th and scored over 300 points on 247sports, many want to talk about who LSU lost out on. So let's do that.

I think the biggest loss, the biggest miss was Van Pran. A highly ranked C (when centers rarely are ranked high) coming out of LA. Seems like a no-brainer, but he never wanted to come here and wanted out. Can't really say LSU missed on him, but he stands out as a player at a need position that LSU did not fill with anyone else.

WR. Jarrett decided he wanted to be a big fish in a small local pond. He's a great talent, but that's his loss. Burton spurned LSU for UGA at the last minute. Makes you wonder. A CA kid skips on this offense for UGA? Weird. These two guys are good, but I really like who LSU got in Boutte, Moore, and Adams. Boutte is already great and I think Moore and Adams will end up being far better than the rankings credit them.

DT. Yes, LSU lost out on Burch. Seems the kid really wanted LSU, but the pressure was too great to stay at home with his family and friends. I don't know what to say about M Jackson other than I'd rather have him at TAMU than Bama. I was never that excited about P Jenkins, but I was sorry to see J Lee "processed." Two LA kids and you hate to see that. But, you can't argue a haul of Roy, Guillory, and Taylor.

DE. Seems LSU passed, or processed, Clowney and Bryant. But, they got Ojulari so not disappointed. And Gaye doesn't get credit for how good he could be.

S. This the one that hurts, where I see the most "misses." LSU got Toles and he's the best of the lot, but it seems they pushed Burns and Greene out. I've thought that Burns wanted to try CB first and LSU wanted him at S. LSU also wanted him to wait and he said no. I was never that high on Greene, but it seems LSU was wanting other guys and they didn't get them. A Johnson, X Alford, L Johnson, E Reed, and B Clark all went elsewhere. It seems like LSU missed on guys because they didn't decide on who they really wanted and make a push for them. They went for them all and missed on them all. Again, Toles is the best of the lot, but it would have been nice to get a Burns, Reed, or Clark with him.

So, in the end, LSU "missed" on some players, but got others as good, or better. Outside of Van Pran who wasn't coming here, LSU replaced "misses" at WR and DT, but was left short at S.

This class is tremendous. It could have been a little different with some different outcomes, but I prefer the talent that really wants to be here, to compete at the highest level.