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Kardell Thomas miss only magnified when looking at OL struggles
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:00 pm
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:00 pm
It makes you wonder who is exactly responsible for identifying OL talent. Thomas came to LSU with his 5-star ranking and has been nothing but a complete bust. I realize he's had a couple of injuries, but even without the injuries the general consensus has been that he was way over hyped and not nearly as good as advertised.
I realize LSU's OL was named the best in the country in 2019, but that was lightning in a bottle, not a normal occurrence. I don't understand how a powerhouse like LSU can't land top level offensive linemen every year. It would seem LSU would be an offensive lineman's dream spot to play in front of the loudest and more rabid fans in country. It's also worth mentioning the food is world class!
So what's the deal? Do we not have coaches that know how to pick out great OL talent or is LSU always going to be a school known for landing great athletes and average to below average OL? Is OL not a priority in recruiting?
I'm not necessarily talking about landing just 5-stars, but landing solid OL that can compete at the SEC level. The player from Harvard is a great example. Great kid, very smart, but nowhere near the SEC level but we take him any way!
Just very frustrated to see the same cycle repeat itself year after year and watch very talented LSU teams fall short of winning the SEC and making the playoffs because of piss-poor OL play!
I realize LSU's OL was named the best in the country in 2019, but that was lightning in a bottle, not a normal occurrence. I don't understand how a powerhouse like LSU can't land top level offensive linemen every year. It would seem LSU would be an offensive lineman's dream spot to play in front of the loudest and more rabid fans in country. It's also worth mentioning the food is world class!
So what's the deal? Do we not have coaches that know how to pick out great OL talent or is LSU always going to be a school known for landing great athletes and average to below average OL? Is OL not a priority in recruiting?
I'm not necessarily talking about landing just 5-stars, but landing solid OL that can compete at the SEC level. The player from Harvard is a great example. Great kid, very smart, but nowhere near the SEC level but we take him any way!
Just very frustrated to see the same cycle repeat itself year after year and watch very talented LSU teams fall short of winning the SEC and making the playoffs because of piss-poor OL play!
9
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:02 pm to rjacksonmroctober
IMO we aim too high on a lot of prospects around the country who really have no intentions in coming here. This causes us to get left at the alter on signing day and miss out on a bunch of underrated large bodied in state talent.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:07 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
There wasn’t a thing to make anybody think this kid wasn’t going to be anything but a force in college. He
dominated just about everybody at the camps and even Saban tried to talk him out of his LSU commitment. Tough to figure this one out other than a bad injury which has not healed.
dominated just about everybody at the camps and even Saban tried to talk him out of his LSU commitment. Tough to figure this one out other than a bad injury which has not healed.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:07 pm to rjacksonmroctober
I think Some of our problem is that we recruit guy that look the part but are just huge dudes dominating high schoolers
Most elite programs find athletic guys with big frames that can project to put in weight and then get them in good shape at the size they want.
(And then there is alabam that just takes 2/3 of the best OTs every year)
This is one of the reasons I love Campbell as a prospect. He is big, moves incredibly well, has a huge frame.
Most elite programs find athletic guys with big frames that can project to put in weight and then get them in good shape at the size they want.
(And then there is alabam that just takes 2/3 of the best OTs every year)
This is one of the reasons I love Campbell as a prospect. He is big, moves incredibly well, has a huge frame.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:10 pm to mikeytig
Agreed - Don't know what happened w/ him.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:11 pm to rjacksonmroctober
By now I thought Kardell Thomas and Anthony Bradford would be All-SEC and they have contributed essentially nothing.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:12 pm to rjacksonmroctober
Because all of the tape we had of Kardell was him absolutely dominating everyone. And then you get to camps, and he's dominating 4 and 5 star DT and DEs. Sometimes busts happen, and there's no rhyme or reason, but KT still isn't a bust. He's got 2 more years and he can easily turn around and become what he was projected to be.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:17 pm to rjacksonmroctober
quote:
It makes you wonder who is exactly responsible for identifying OL talent. Thomas came to LSU with his 5-star ranking.
Thomas was a 3 star recruit, the No. 22 ranked guard in the country.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:19 pm to MrWiseGuy
quote:
Thomas was a 3 star recruit, the No. 22 ranked guard in the country.
Nope, he was a consensus 4*. 5* on rivals and 4* on 247. He had offers from everyone so either he was overrated or under-coached
This post was edited on 9/9/21 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:19 pm to deathvalleyfreak43
quote:Agreed. Which is why I’m happy they’re taking Bo Bordeleon and Fitzgerald West this year
MO we aim too high on a lot of prospects around the country who really have no intentions in coming here. This causes us to get left at the alter on signing day and miss out on a bunch of underrated large bodied in state talent.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:21 pm to MrWiseGuy
He must have fell big time in the rankings then. Because he was a 5 star when LSU was recruiting him.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:22 pm to SammyTiger
quote:Huge Dominating Dudes at a single A classification Louisiana public high school (KT) level that don't pass the football.
I think Some of our problem is that we recruit guy that look the part but are just huge dudes dominating high schoolers
They get to LSU/SEC and are totally overwhelmed mentally and physically.
It's not a hard concept to understand.
Extremely lazy OL recruiting.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:22 pm to rjacksonmroctober
Kardell Thomas is another Freak Johnson. He physically peaked at 16 years old and others have gotten bigger, stronger, and more athletic as they have grown and passed him up.
He carries bad weight and hasn’t been able to get in shape due to injury. I don’t expect him to contribute, which is a shame.
He carries bad weight and hasn’t been able to get in shape due to injury. I don’t expect him to contribute, which is a shame.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:24 pm to Sterling Archer
quote:
Nope, he was a consensus 4*. 5* on rivals and 4* on 247. He had offers from everyone so either he was overrated of under-coached
He was the No. 22 ranked guard in the country. This is not a recruit LSU fans should expect to have been a first-team all-conference selection.
Then add on top of it his significant leg injury as a freshman.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:25 pm to chadr07
quote:
He must have fell big time in the rankings then. Because he was a 5 star when LSU was recruiting him.
I'm looking for a way to look it up, but yes. 247 dropped him SIGNIFICANTLY in its final updated rankings.
ETA: Looks like Thomas started off as the No. 31 overall recruit in the country the summer before his senior year.
Based on camp circuits and senior film, he then fell to the No. 22 guard recruit -- a significant drop.
Gotta admit, 247 Sports was on the money with that re-evaluation
This post was edited on 9/9/21 at 4:32 pm
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:27 pm to rjacksonmroctober
pancakes
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:31 pm to rjacksonmroctober
Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know what to do and who to block. Maybe it’s because he’s out of shape. 
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:33 pm to SammyTiger
quote:
I think Some of our problem is that we recruit guy that look the part but are just huge dudes dominating high schoolers
There may be some truth to this. LSU doesn't appear to have a lot of "athletes" at OL. Just a lot of really big guys. Ingram is 320. Hines is 350. Bradford is 365!!! For his part, Deculus is 325. Some might argue those guys are all too big to move well.
Compare that to the Saints OL that goes 304, 316, 303, 316, 314. Yes, I know we are talking about pros vs. college players. But if you look across the NFL you aren't seeing a ton of 320+ guys along the OL. That's because they want OL who can move.
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:33 pm to MrWiseGuy
Kardell Thomas 247 Profile
Seems to me, 247 had him ranked as the #4 interior lineman and the #4 player in the state. Also, the #97 ranked overall player in the country.
Edit: Ok, I see what you a showing, but it doesn't show up in the composite.
Seems to me, 247 had him ranked as the #4 interior lineman and the #4 player in the state. Also, the #97 ranked overall player in the country.
Edit: Ok, I see what you a showing, but it doesn't show up in the composite.
This post was edited on 9/9/21 at 4:40 pm
Posted on 9/9/21 at 4:37 pm to Alt26
quote:
There may be some truth to this. LSU doesn't appear to have a lot of "athletes" at OL. Just a lot of really big guys. Ingram is 320. Hines is 350. Bradford is 365!!! For his part, Deculus is 325. Some might argue those guys are all too big to move well.
I would say LSU's problem along the offensive line is they just haven't signed any high profile recruits
Deculus was a near 5 star recruit but after that, when you go down the roster, it's pretty bleak
*Wire - 3 star recruit, 247's 30th OT recruit, No. 428 overall
*Ingram - 4 star, 247's 15th OG, No. 211 overall
*Shanny - a 6th year transfer from Harvard
*Hines - a converted 3 star DT/ Bradford - a 4 star recruit ranked below Thomas
So your top 6 there is one recruit that was a top 100 overall recruit in his class
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