Until 2019’s spectacular season at LSU, Ed Orgeron was known more as a motivator and an ace recruiter than anything else. However, thanks to the incredible 2019 campaign that saw the Tigers finish 15-0 and win the national title, Coach O garnered respect as an on-field coach, too.

He’s always been an elite recruiter who’s relentless on the trail, and 2021 will be no different. Right now, LSU has the nation’s No. 6 overall recruiting class, good for second-best in the SEC behind Tennessee. The Tigers have just 12 commitments, but the guys who have committed are highly-ranked thus far. Despite no 5-stars in the class, 9 4-stars help lead this cycle. The Tigers top committed prospect is California outside linebacker Raesjon Davis.

Orgeron feels good about where things stand right now on the recruiting trail.

“I’m so proud of our assistants and the job that they’re doing,” Orgeron said on 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge. “These Zoom meetings. Guys like Bill Busch, Corey Raymond, James Cregg, all of our staff throughout the weekend. Players with their parents. It’s like a home visit. Walt Holliday is in there, he’s in charge of our academics, and we give them an extensive plan. It’s working.

“They’re doing a great job and we’re getting commitments from the high-profile players around the country. Obviously, in the state of Louisiana, we’re on our top guys. We feel good about it. I’m excited about the recruiting. I believe it’ll be an elite level class.”

Currently, the NCAA has mandated a dead period for recruiting at least through June 30. Since March, programs haven’t been able to conduct in-person or on-campus recruiting with high school prospects. That’s certainly a different landscape than at anytime before.

Of the Tigers 12 commitments, just 2 are from the state of Louisiana. Several big-time in-state players are still on the board — the top 5 in the state, and this class should certainly be elite-level when the ink dries.