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LSU's 2021 Football Recruiting Class

Posted on 1/17/20 at 11:26 pm
Posted by CantGuardJamarr
Member since Jan 2020
215 posts
Posted on 1/17/20 at 11:26 pm
(Disclaimer: the write-ups under each name are opinionated based on my former experience working in college recruiting, following social media trends with recruits over the past few years, and being young enough to understand the mind of an entitled teenager) [All overall, positional, and state rankings are updated 247Sports Composite rankings]

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^- denotes a player that is already verbally committed to LSU

[5 current commits]


5-Star QB Caleb Williams 6'2, 209lbs, #2 Dual Threat QB, #11 Overall, #1 D.C.

Caleb Williams is a phenomenal talent. He very well could be a Heisman finalist by his second full season if LSU continues to strengthen the O-line and receiving corps. He's currently locked in a recruiting battle with LSU, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Clemson, but LSU is probably the leader, with Oklahoma and Clemson looming closeby. Caleb will come in and challenge for the starting spot as a true freshman. His playmaking ability with both his strong arm and quick feet allow for home run plays every opportunity he has the ball. If Caleb's commitment comes in the mid-spring like I believe it will, watch the domino effect with other skill player commitments to LSU.

Confidence Level: 75%

5-Star WDE Landon Jackson 6'6, 240lbs, #1 WDE, #16 Overall

Landon Jackson has a MOTOR. I can see him starting or at least playing 65% of the defensive snaps as a true freshman. Vicious tackler, quick off the line, great hands. He's one of those guys that are just a rare talent that come along once every few years. Pending more added weight, he could become all-SEC 2 or 3 of his years at LSU. Texas A&M is also very aggressive in his recruitment, but LSU has proven time and time again that NFLSU is the place to be, and has the tools to morph him into a top-10 draft pick in the future.

Confidence Level: 80%

^ 5-Star OLB Raesjon Davis 6'1, 215lbs, #2 OLB, #22 Overall, #4 California

Elite speed for the position, reminds me of a mix between Patrick Queen and Jacoby Stevens in terms of Queen's tackling ability and Stevens' coverage skills. Again, a rare out-of-state defensive talent that is attracted to the bayou and Coach O's culture. I believe he will get some playing time as a freshman, but will really come into his own as a sophomore and years beyond.

Confidence Level: 99%

5-Star WR Troy Franklin 6'2, 170lbs, #3 WR, #21 Overall

Franklin is the next Justin Jefferson (after Trey Palmer). Deceptive speed, EXTREMELY quick off the line. Very good at locating the ball and settling in zones. He's still a little raw in terms of route running, but Mickey Joseph can easily fix that. Can provide a home-run threat in the return game his freshman season if he's not getting much action on the offense. Oregon will push hard for him considering his California roots, but LSU and Bama are right in the thick of it trying to restock their offensive weapons for years to come.

Confidence Level: 60%

5-Star DT Maason Smith 6'4, 316lbs, #2 DT, #18 Overall, #1 LOUISIANA

I've had the luxury of watching Maason over the past two seasons, and even covered some of his 2019 games for TV. I've talked to him and stood next to him, and he is a MASSIVE human being. He's put on quite a bit of muscle over the past 2 years, and is a special player. Coach O will go after him hard especially since he's a South Louisiana boy. Maason also played a little Offensive Tackle this year, and has the potential to switch over at LSU if need be due to his size and his hands at the point of attack, but his talent lies in beating blocks and tackling violently. I genuinely think Maason is one of the better D-Line prospects LSU has ever seen. Bama is also in the mix, but I seriously doubt anyone but LSU lands him.

Confidence Level: 90%

5-Star CB Ga'Quincy McKinstry 5'11.5, 172lbs, #3 CB, #27 Overall

He could obviously add some more muscle weight, but he is a rare talent that plays both ways on the football field, and is a great basketball player as well. He has a 33.7" vertical that really shows on tape, and can high point the ball over much taller players if need be. I can see him playing a similar role as Stingley wants to do, both CB and WR. Great but not elite verified speed at 4.67 in a 40yd, but makes up for it with his ball skills and tracking. Would benefit quite well going up against LSU's WR corps in practice.

Confidence Level: 75%

4-Star ATH Sage Ryan 5'11, 193lbs, #2 ATH, #32 Overall, #2 LOUISIANA

Sage Ryan is a bigger Deonte Harris for the Saints, but much more of an offensive receiving threat. He's currently listed as a 4-star, but could easily make the jump to a 5-star with his experience at camps and The Opening. Extremely quick and agile, could be used in a sort of Russell Gage role, a slot-receiver that can also carry the ball well, but much earlier in his career than Gage. I am really excited about Sage Ryan, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he'll return 3+ punts/kicks for TDs in his LSU career. Can also shine as a defensive back, but I doubt we'll need him on that side of the ball with Corey Raymond's embarrassment of riches at the position every year. Not to compare him to the Honey Badger but.........

Confidence Level: 85%

4-star WR Mario Williams 5'10, 165lbs, #6 WR, #48 Overall

Williams will obviously need to gain some muscle to combat SEC press corners, but possesses phenomenal first-step quickness and will easily leave any corner in the dust. Reminds me a bit of Ja'Marr Chase with his seemingly effortless speed and playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. Seems to be quite interested in LSU via his Twitter, and also seems to love Coach O. Geaux Tigers.

Confidence Level: 85%

4-Star WR Chris Hilton 5'11.5, 169lbs, #7 WR, #53 Overall, #3 LOUISIANA

I know what you're thinking. Why in the world would we get 5 receivers/athletes in the same class? But think about it, following the 2020 season, LSU loses Racey McMath and Jontre Kirklin, and will more than likely lose Chase and Marshall to the draft. I have confidence in Trey Palmer and Kayshon Boutte to step up and be the clear leaders of the crew in 2021, becoming Jets and Chase 2.0. But following in their footsteps, the younger receivers will need some time to learn the system and watch, and I feel like Chris Hilton plays with a swagger that perfectly fits LSU. My favorite thing about Hilton is his high-pointing skills. Excels as a high jumper in track, and it directly translates to his in-game ability. He's a special Bayou boy and I see him having a great career as a Tiger.

Confidence Level: 85%
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 12:37 pm
Posted by CantGuardJamarr
Member since Jan 2020
215 posts
Posted on 1/17/20 at 11:28 pm to
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4-Star WR Jacorey Brooks 6'3, 185lbs, #2 WR, #19 Overall

This year, Brooks put up Justin Jefferson-type receiving numbers: 99 catches, 1281 yards, 18 TDs. Wow. Above all the speed numbers and stars and everything else, I believe consistency is one of the best predictors of future success, and this kid HAS IT. He listed LSU in his Top 7, including FSU, TAMU, Bama, Miami, UGA and Florida. He's apparently close to current LSU OL Kardell Thomas and RB Ty Davis-Price. In another twist, he apparently has dreamed of going to LSU since he was 12!

Confidence Level: 80%

4-Star WR Quaydarius Davis 6'0, 193lbs, #14 WR, #77 Overall

Absolute FREAK. Quay is listed as the #14 WR in the country, but will easily climb the ranks as the year unfolds. Kid is a stud at 7v7 camps and high points the ball like it's nothing. I noticed him wearing LSU gloves on a few occasions, and I think he could be an absolute star in this offense. It will be interesting to see how many of these elite WR prospects we'll take, but landing only 2 or 3 of the 6 would still be an insane haul.

Confidence Level: 80%

4-Star RB LJ Johnson 5'10, 204lbs, #4 RB, #81 Overall

Johnson is a fierce downhill runner, but has 4.4 verified speed. Had 37 rushing touchdowns in 2019, and 20 in 2018. He is more of a run-only type of back due to his lack of receptions (only 8 total catches in 2 years). Hits the hole hard and gets there quickly before it can close. Once he gets to the second and third levels, I seriously doubt that there are many that can catch him. A spread offense will take some getting used to for LJ due to his team running an I-formation, Georgia-style offense. I can just see him coming in on 3rd and short, putting his head down, and getting those hard-earned yards for the first down, then taking off for 45 yards to the sound of Dan Borné and the Tiger faithful erupting in an alcohol-fueled jubilee.

Confidence Level: 68%

4-Star S Kaine Williams 6'1.5, 192lbs, #3 Safety, #88 Overall, #5 Louisiana

I'm gonna go ahead and bet money on Kaine earning the coveted #7 jersey as an LSU defensive back. A hard-hitting ballhawk that will Allen Iverson step over you after the hit and won't be sorry about it. Built similarly to Grant Delpit, and hits like sophomore season Delpit. Is a Louisiana boy, so of course O will go after him hard to keep him in state. I really like our chances here at one of the most underrated defensive players in the country.

Confidence Level: 90%

^ 4-Star WR Deion Smith 6'1.5, 172lbs, #21 WR, #110 Overall

Flies past press corners at an alarming rate. Was an All-State receiver in Mississippi, but I can see a switch to Cornerback coming due to the sheer amount of receivers LSU will have at the point of signing, and his size is ideal for a Corey Raymond cornerback. I'd hate to see that happen due to his remarkable playmaking ability in the open field and his high-pointing skills, but we'll see what the future holds. **be wary of Smith flipping, he was recently committed to Mississippi State, then flipped to LSU on an impulse mid-season. Due to his Mississippi roots, we'll see if he holds firm, but with Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin now in-state, a flip here is quite possible.

Confidence Level: 95%

4-star ILB Kendrick Blackshire 6'2, 250lbs, #3 ILB, #116 Overall

Replacing leading tacklers like Devin White last year, Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips this year, and Jacoby Stevens next year won't be easy, but Kendrick Blackshire seems to be up for the challenge. Very smart player, sniffs out screen passes quite well, is violent when tackling and wraps up very well. Many young backers and safeties tend to hit with the shoulder and go for the kill shot, but Blackshire doesn't fall in that category. I can see him having multiple 100+ tackle seasons once he starts. Him, Phillip Webb, Antoine Sampah, Raesjon Davis, and Josh White could end up being one of the best linebacking corps in the country early on.

Confidence Level: 80%

4-Star OT Tristan Leigh 6'5, 275lbs, #22 OT, #168 Overall

Leigh has great size for an OT, and the position is one that will need to be filled fairly soon with the departure of Saahdiq Charles this year and Austin Deculus next year. As mentioned earlier, Maason Smith (and also 2020 commit CamRon Jackson) could move over to tackle but bringing in true offensive tackles omits that need. Tristan has quick feet, moves quite well for a 6'5 guy, and impressed at LSU camp. Not to mention he picked LSU to win in the natty over Clemson by double digits!

Confidence Level: 80%

4-Star CB Andre Turrentine 6'0, 175lbs, #15 CB, #194 Overall

Probably one of the most underrated corners in the country, Turrentine is an absolute stud. He plays safety/corner and also receiver, and is a threat with the ball in his hands. Don't believe me? Skip to 48 seconds on his Hudl highlights on 247Sports. Uses his size very well, and gets low on tackles to ensure a clean wrap-up. Will provide immediate quality depth to Stingley, Ricks, McGlothern, and Flott.

Confidence Level: 90%

4-Star SDE Shemar Turner 6'3.5, 260lbs, #15 SDE, #219 Overall

Turner will fly under the radar for most people who think they know something about recruiting, but he is a machine. Violent tackler, rips through blocks easily, and has great instincts. Plays in big-boy Texas 6A football, so you know that he's playing quality opponents often, and has the accolades and stats to show for it. Also, upon receiving an offer from LSU, he called us his "dream school"... so take that as you will.

Confidence Level: 95%

^ 4-Star S Corey Coley Jr. 6'1, 170lbs, #16 Safety, #400 Overall

Coley committed to LSU 2 days after manhandling Georgia in the SEC Championship, however 247Sports somehow missed that, so he's not listed under 2021 LSU commits. He is a bit on the skinny side, but hits quite well for his current size, and will only improve. He's quick to react to the flight of the ball and his tracking skills are elite. LSU will continue to recruit safeties in the coming years due to the fact that there will only be 4 upperclassmen safeties on the roster next year, and all of them will be seniors. 2020 commit Jordan Toles will be a freshman, so Corey Raymond can mold him, Coley, and Kaine Williams into the next generation of DBU disciples.

Confidence Level: 98%

^ 3-Star DT Anthony Hundley 6'3, 270lbs, #36 DT, #634 Overall

Hundley committed to LSU pretty early in the recruitment process. He's pretty quick for a Defensive Tackle, and carries 270lbs pretty well (just not in his verified 40yd dash time). He may be on the lower end of the recruiting rankings, but we've all seen what LSU can do with not highly rated recruits. I believe if he keeps adding weight, he can be a disruptive force in the middle like a Tyler Shelvin (just not as big). ****I hate to say it, but he may be one of the players that get processed out if it comes down to a few crucial slots at the end of the signing period.

Confidence Level: 85%

3-Star OG John Martin 6'2.5, 336lbs, #25 OG, #683 Overall, #25 LOUISIANA

LSU has yet to offer Martin, but he is on their radar. I don't see Coach O going after many OGs this year due to the sheer amount of depth at the position currently, but I can see him going after a Louisiana guy out of New Orleans. Once again, stars sometimes don't matter. He has quick feet and a strong upper body. The first play of his Junior Season highlights on Hudl remind me a LOT of the Adrian Magee double pancake play vs Vanderbilt earlier this year.

Confidence Level: 75%
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 12:33 pm
Posted by CantGuardJamarr
Member since Jan 2020
215 posts
Posted on 1/17/20 at 11:31 pm to
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^ Unranked P Peyton Todd 6'5, 210lbs, N/A P, N/A Overall

Todd will come in and take over when Zach Von Rosenberg leaves the Tigers. He did quite well at the Kohl's Kicking Camp, and is one of the best punters in the country. He is from Louisiana, so good job Coach McMahon. Shockingly, he isn't the only punter recruit on this list, as Anthony Hundley is also a punter for his high school and is actually one of the best punters in Florida..... as a defensive tackle.

Confidence Level: 100%


To round out the 25 spots, the players below are 3 fringe prospects that I believe LSU has a good chance at landing but will have to be very aggressive in recruiting this year to land, partially due to the coaching turnover, as the country will be watching LSU extremely closely this coming season. If not these 3 players, then refer to the two "keep an eye on" sections below.


5-Star OT Tommy Brockermeyer 6'6, 283lbs, #1 OT, #3 Overall

Brockermeyer would be a HUGE pickup for Coach Cregg and with the possession of the Joe Moore Award for best offensive line in the country, he can now back up the talk. His older brother plays linebacker for Texas, his father played OT for Texas and in the NFL, and his younger brother is a highly rated recruit as well, but once LSU becomes the CEO of the University of Texas Football Program in Week 2 of 2020, I believe Tommy's mind could shift to coming to Death Valley instead of a perennially disappointing football team in the Texas Longhorns. Texas is, in fact, NOT back Tommy. (LSU was listed in his top 6 schools)

Confidence Level: 80%

5-Star DT Payton Page 6'4, 315lbs, #2 DT, #7 Overall

Page has some of the best strength of the entire class and tackles with ferocity (see the first play of his sophomore highlights on Hudl). Has the potential to be a 3-year starter for the Tigers due to the likely departure of Shelvin, Farrell, and Glen Logan after the 2020 season. Recently listed LSU in his top 5 schools with Clemson, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Oregon.

Confidence Level: 70%

5-Star WR Agiye Hall 6'3, 190lbs, #1 WR, #22 Overall

Could Hall be the next in line to follow the trend of elite athletes transferring to IMG Academy his senior year, then heading to Baton Rouge and turning heads? I believe so. He has Terrace Marshall's size, but with breakneck speed. Can absolutely fly, and is one of those rare, hybrid deep-threat yet can catch the 50/50 balls with ease type of players. Exceptional YAC skills, (I hate making the comparison but I will anyway) and is a lot like Jerry Jeudy, with the potential to be even better than he was with the Tide. He will be a hard pull considering Clemson and OU are in the hunt. Watch for his commitment this Spring 2020. (He was a Joe Brady disciple before Brady left the Tigers.)

Confidence Level: 55%

Dudes to keep an eye on:

5-Star SDE Korey Foreman 6'4, 245lbs, #1 SDE, #1 Overall
Committed to Clemson- 1/26/2020

5-Star RB Camar Wheaton 5'11, 190lbs, #1 RB, #6 Overall

5-Star OT Saivon Byrd 6'5, 265lbs, #2 OT, #12 Overall

5-Star OT Amarius Mims 6'7.5, 315lbs, #3 OT, #13 Overall

5-Star WDE Dylan Brooks 6'4, 215lbs, #2 WDE, #20 Overall

5-Star SDE Tunmise Adeleye 6'3, 260lbs, #3 SDE, #26 Overall
********** Watch out for Adeleye, seemed highly interested in LSU and is very likely to commit to the Tigers

4-Star WDE Bryce Langston 6'2.5, 250lbs, #3 WDE, #42 Overall

4-Star WR Brian Thomas, Jr. 6'4, 185lbs, #13 WR, #76 Overall, #4 LOUISIANA

4-Star OT JC Latham 6'5.5, 285lbs, #13 OT, #80 Overall

4-Star WR Quincy Brown 6'3.5, 175lbs, #33 WR, #170 Overall, #7 LOUISIANA

4-Star DT Victory Vaka 6'3, 315 lbs, #14 DT, #197 Overall
********** Same goes for Vaka, he is in love with LSU and the DL staff here, look for a commitment on June 28th

4-Star RB Brandon Campbell 5'10, 190lbs, #14 RB, #244 Overall

4-Star LB/RB Jaydon Hood 6'1, 212lbs

3-Star ATH Yulkeith Brown 5'10, 174lbs, #37 ATH, #413 Overall
********** a 3-Star, undersized player with incredible vision and drive... sound familiar? (LSU is his dream school, recently received an offer on 1/23/20)

3-Star WR Jack Bech 6'1, 203lbs, #98 WR, #566 Overall, #18 LOUISIANA
********** LSU hasn't offered him yet, but he's an absolute FREAK. Also, probably the best blocking wide receiver in the entire class


Dudes to really keep an eye on:

4-Star QB Garrett Nussmeier 6'1.5, 171lbs, #11 Pro-Style QB, #171 Overall

The reason I didn't include Nuss in my top 25 is because of how confident I am in LSU's ability to get Caleb Williams. There's a possibility LSU can land both Williams and Nuss in the class, but I doubt it with both Max Johnson and TJ Finley in the class before, adding up to 6 scholarship QBs in 2021 with Myles and Peter. Regardless, I see LSU going after Nuss hard if the Williams recruitment blows over. Noteworthy: is close to current LSU DB/OLB Marcel Brooks, and his father was coached by LSU's new PGC Scott Linehan.


My Predictions' Positional Breakdown and Analysis:

Offense:
QBs- 1 (5-Star)
WRs- 7 (2 5-Stars, 5 4-Stars)
ATHs- 1 (High 4-Star)
RBs- 1 (4-star)
OT- 2 (1 5-Star, 1 4-Star)
OG- 1 (3-Star)

Defense:
CB- 2 (1 5-Star, 1 4-Star)
S- 2 (2 4-Stars)
OLB- 1 (1 5-Star)
ILB- 1 (4-Star)
DE- 2 (1 5-Star, 1 4-Star)
DT- 3 (2 5-Stars, 1 3-Star)

Special Teams:
P- 1 (N/A)
This post was edited on 2/17/20 at 11:34 am
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 1/17/20 at 11:32 pm to
Posted by The Tiger322
Member since Dec 2019
2645 posts
Posted on 1/17/20 at 11:51 pm to
I like it, I like it alot.
Posted by N2daWild
Member since Jul 2019
6008 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 12:03 am to
Well done. Thanks
Posted by The Tiger322
Member since Dec 2019
2645 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 12:05 am to
Also I know we cant take everyone but just wondering why you dont think we land Daejon Reynolds?
This post was edited on 1/18/20 at 12:06 am
Posted by ConeHawk
Member since Dec 2018
1961 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 12:05 am to
Wishful thinking...
Posted by Cadello
Eunice
Member since Dec 2007
47791 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 12:23 am to
Man why you want to do that?

This guy took hours out of his time to post a very informative and useful post about recruits to watch next year.

I for one am grateful for this post. Hope he posts more.
Posted by BayouBengal99
Crowley
Member since Oct 2007
9111 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 2:23 am to
I think this is about as accurate as it gets at this point. LSU could be more successful with some others while missing on some of these guys but it could very well turn out as good as this or better in some cases.

A lot will depend on who we get as our DC/OC and who they bring with them. I’m sure Ed O will make hires that could land some of these big time recruits while also fitting what we need at this time. The good news is that Ed O’s name carries much more weight then it has in the past 3 seasons, even though his name already carried lots of weight as for as recruiting. I’m pumped to see how it all plays out and who they will decide on for the OC/DC positions.
Posted by RadarTiger
Member since Dec 2018
3297 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 3:33 am to
Good post I imagine this thread will be used through signing day next year
Posted by Bjricha85
Louisiana
Member since Jan 2020
277 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 5:00 am to
This would be an EYE POPPING class to say the least. WOW is all I have to say. Of course there will be hits and misses, but this is outstanding. Great work BTW.

GEAUX TIGERS
Posted by JayWalkTiger
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2014
793 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 8:07 am to
Pretty sure we have more than an outside shot with Korey Foreman. Especially if he comes to junior day all the way from Cali.
This post was edited on 1/18/20 at 12:26 pm
Posted by KTiger85
Member since Oct 2018
659 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 8:30 am to
Thanks for posting this.
Posted by PhillyFan1994
Member since Sep 2012
2032 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 8:45 am to
What about Brian Thomas from Walker? I've heard a lot of great things about him the past two years.
Posted by alatxtgr
The Nation of Texas
Member since Sep 2006
2282 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 9:30 am to
quote:

Pretty sure we have more than an outside shot with Korey Foreman. Especially if he come to junior day all the way from Cali.
Very smart move by Coach O to give John Robertson a position on the staff. JR’s been out for a while, but his does reign high in California !!!
Posted by Ghost of Colby
Alberta, overlooking B.C.
Member since Jan 2009
11139 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 10:01 am to
quote:

Garrett Nussmeier

I don’t know how much it matters in his recruiting, but his father was retained by McCarthy and remain in Dallas. Doug Nussmeir will be the Cowboys QB coach for 2020.

Garrett Nussmeier probably would have stayed in Texas to finish out HS regardless where his father coached next year. That’s now a certainty. It must suck to be a coach’s kid. Doug Nussmeier has bounced around a lot of different places in the last few years.

Posted by Maximus
Member since Feb 2004
81261 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 10:02 am to
*Robinson
Posted by Bjorn Cyborg
Member since Sep 2016
26639 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 10:03 am to
quote:


Caleb Williams is a generational talent.



A generation is about 30 years. That is a completely absurd statement.
Posted by TigersInCleveland
Cleveland
Member since Jun 2019
145 posts
Posted on 1/18/20 at 10:22 am to
Heard he really likes bama
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