Nick Saban beats Ed Orgeron again: Elite Louisiana lineman Ishmael Sopsher headed to Alabama
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LSU just can’t beat Nick Saban when it really counts.
That reality showed itself once again on National Signing Day as Alabama reached into Louisiana to land the signature of elite Pelican State lineman Ishmael Sopsher. LSU and Alabama have been battling for Amite native for several seasons but in the end, the Crimson Tide won out.
Sopsher announced his decision during a live ceremony which was broadcast nationally by ESPN. He cited his desire to want to play for Nick Saban as being a key factor in his decision.
The 6-foot-4, 334-pound Amite lineman is ranked as a four-star prospect, the nation’s No. 5 defensive tackle and the No. 47 overall recruit in the 2019 recruiting cycle by 247Sports Composite Rankings. Sopsher was an Under Armour All-American selection following the conclusion of his high school career at Amite.
According to ESPN’s Tom Luginbill, who hosted the network’s signing day coverage, the UA All-American Game did not have a helmet big enough to fit Sopsher when he arrived in Orlando last month.
This won’t be an easy one for LSU fans to get over as Alabama’s advantage on the line of scrimmage last season was apparent and this decision appears to only tilt that dominance in the Crimson Tide’s favor to a larger degree heading into 2019.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
