The LSU Tigers are focusing on Texas Tech, a team they’ll meet in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29 in Houston. The month-long dead period for recruiting began this week and head coach Les Miles and his staff is back to game planning for now.

Playing an extra game in the state of Texas, fertile grounds that LSU has always recruited heavily, only adds to the exposure of the program and enhances its abilities to bring in potential recruits.

Despite the uncertainty revolving around Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and three decommits because of it, one of the best recruiters in the country is nevertheless still bringing in another top-notch class for 2016. In fact, with 17 commitments so far, LSU is ranked No. 1 in the nation by 247 sports.

Three highly sought-after players top the list and all are defensive standouts. Cornerback Saivion Smith, safety Eric Moore, and tackle Edwin Alexander push the Tigers over the top in the recruiting battle nationally.

Let’s take a look at LSU’s recruiting grades so far.

Offense: A-minus (5 total commits)

Offensively, the Tigers haven’t brought in a large number of players, not just yet anyway. But the ones that are committed are highly rated. Guard Donavaughn Campbell (6-foot-4, 347 pounds) tops the list. He’s got the physical ability to play right away. Campbell chose LSU over SEC rivals Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia and Florida.

Blocking for LSU’s patented running game takes players like Campbell and 2016 commits TE Jamal Pettigrew (6-foot-6, 229 pounds) and Jakori Savage (6-foot-6, 300 pounds). The Tigers also pulled in a pair of wide receivers, including the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Dee Anderson from Texas. He chose LSU over SEC schools Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M and Georgia.

Defense: A-plus (12 total commits)

The Tigers absolutely cleaned up on defense with some of the top talent in the nation. With Smith, Moore, and Andraez Williams in the secondary, the Tigers also bring in Alexander, DE Rahssan Thornton (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and DT Glen Logan (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) to bolster the line. That alone would bring a smile to any school’s recruiting efforts.

But the Tigers also added top linebacker Erick Fowler (6-foot-1, 232 pounds) to the stellar group, and Michael Divinity (6-foot-2, 218 pounds) decommitted but is still in the mix with Texas A&M. It’s a haul that could pan out to be one of the best, if not the best, defenses in the country in a program long noted for their success on that side of the ball.

Recruiting needs

The Tigers have already begun to address a pressing need. Having already gotten a verbal from one of the best linebackers in the country, LSU is looking for more. The Tigers are hoping to lure Georgian Jaleel Laguins to Baton Rouge.

One casualty of the recruiting wars was a decommit from one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Feleipe Franks bolted to Florida, leaving LSU without a signal-caller in the current 2016 class. However, Miles says he remains confident that the Tigers can land another good one before all is said and done.