LSU, the same program that followed up the successful signing of 5-star running back Leonard Fournette with the successful signing of 4-star (probably should have been 5-star) running back Derrius Guice, hasn’t had the same head-turning pursuit of a top-tier running back in the 2017 class.

The Tigers missed out on 5-star prospect Cam Akers, who is enrolled at Florida State, and only have the commitment of in-state 3-star prospect Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the class right now.

But the Tigers are fully focused on keeping in-state 4-star running back Travis Etienne in the state. Jimmy D. Smith, the Tigers’ recruiting writer for NOLA.com said that Etienne, from Jennings, La., is the key to LSU’s running back class.

“They need Etienne,” Smith said. “There just aren’t any other backs on its board. However, they do have an athlete committed in Patrick Queen at linebacker, that can play running back at a high level. If they sign the right number of linebackers, they could keep Queen at running back – his high school position.”

Smith goes further and says that the state of Louisiana is going through a slow period at the running back position and he doesn’t see a real standout prospect emerging in the class of 2018, either.

“Louisiana just does not have a ton to offer in terms of running backs in this class or next,” Smith said. “There are some Division I prospects, but nothing close to a Leonard Fournette, Derrius Guice or even Jeremy Hill for that matter. The low population numbers in Louisiana limit the state’s chances of producing depth across the board. For these two years, the running backs seem to be one of the thin position groups.”

The good news for LSU is that Etienne is scheduled to take his official visit on Jan. 27 – the final weekend before National Signing Day.

Tennessee has already hosted Etienne on a visit and head coach Butch Jones made an in-home visit Wednesday. The running back is scheduled to take an official visit to Clemson this weekend.

Stay tuned.

Prospects of note to watch this weekend

— Aubrey Solomon, DT, 5-star (Leesburg, Ga.): Even though Solomon has named Alabama his leader, there were reports of a shakeup after Solomon took his official to USC last weekend. Usually these things stabilize after a couple of days after the recruit gets off the high of being pampered during an official.

But with Michigan, the program Solomon originally committed to, and USC coming on strong, Alabama had a big in-home visit with Solomon on Wednesday night. Michigan visited with Solomon earlier in the week and they enjoyed some fun on the go-cart tracks.

— Maliek Gray, DB, 4-star (LaVergne, Tenn.): Gray was scheduled to take an official visit to Florida State this weekend but told 247Sports Ryan Callahan that he had a change of heart and is done with the recruiting process. Gray, who has been committed to Tennessee since June, will sign with Tennessee during a school ceremony on signing day.

— James Robinson, WR, 4-star (Lakeland, Fla.): Robinson had an in-home visit from Oklahoma on Wednesday and has added an official to Ohio State for this weekend and will take an official to Ole Miss next weekend. Florida still looks like the team to beat, but Ohio State and Oklahoma are coming on strong.

— Thayer Munford, OT, 4-star (Massillon, Ohio): Munford is also visiting Ohio State this weekend and the Buckeyes are battling Kentucky for the 6-foot-5, 315-pound prospect. Expect the Buckeyes to angle for a commitment from Munford, but if he leaves uncommitted it should be good news for Kentucky.

— Michael Owusu, DE, 3-star (Westlake Village, Calif.): Owusu is expected to take his official to Vanderbilt this weekend and the Commodores have been the favorite for this 6-foot-6 prospect. However, USC offered Owusu over the weekend and if he leaves Nashville without committing, it could be a tough fight for Vanderbilt to lure this prospect from the west coast.

— Tyler Taylor, LB, 4-star (Lanier, Ga.): It was a basketball game that drew coaches from Oklahoma and Auburn to see Taylor on Tuesday. He took his official to Oklahoma in September and visited LSU last weekend where he told 247Sports that the Tigers pulled even. This weekend he will take his official to Auburn and make a decision soon after.

— Nick Smith, LB, 3-star (Orlando, Fla.): Smith decommitted from N.C. State earlier this week and will take an official visit to Florida over the weekend. The Gators and LSU Tigers are in on Smith, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker from Dr. Phillips High School. Florida will be aiming for a commitment this weekend and hope to deter Smith from taking his planned official to LSU on Jan. 27.