Ed Orgeron meant it when he said “Now, the real war’s starting in recruiting” after he was officially tabbed as LSU’s full-time head coach last week.

Already extending offers to two of Alabama’s top targets — five-star QB Tua Tagovailoa (who is already committed to the Tide) and five-star linebacker Dylan Moses — Orgeron took a trip to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Thursday morning to visit the top JUCO defensive end in the 2017 recruiting class in Isaiah Buggs.

Just a few short days ago, Buggs (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) released a list of seven finalists — including Alabama and LSU.

Buggs ranks No. 1 in the nation at his position among all JUCOs and is the fourth-best overall JUCO prospect in his class.

As of Thursday afternoon, LSU has commitments from 18 players, giving Orgeron a top-five class entering the month of December.