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LSU football recruiting: 5 takeaways after Day 1 of the Early Signing Period
By Les East
Published:
LSU was an undefeated national champion last season.
But the Tigers need to beat Ole Miss on Saturday just to avoid a losing season this year.
It has been a long free-fall for LSU over the last 11 months.
The Tigers have lost the equivalent of a starting offense and a starting defense since they defeated Clemson in the CFP Championship in January.
The bounce-back began Wednesday.
Here are 5 takeaways after Day 1 of the Early Signing Period.
1. The LSU brand is doing fine
The Tigers’ competitors on the recruiting trail had plenty of ammunition to use against Ed Orgeron and his staff.
“Last year was a fluke. This year is what that program is going to be like for years to come. … Players left early after last season, some opted out during the summer, some even opted out in the last few weeks. There must be a reason. …”
But LSU is one of the best programs in the best conference in college football. Orgeron built it into a championship program. All those players who went to the NFL signed with LSU in the last few years.
Recruits know they can still compete at the highest level at LSU and develop into NFL players.
There’s still plenty of good about the program even amid all the bad of the last several months.
It seems clear that Orgeron and his staff got that point across as they landed the No. 4 class that included 2 5-star recruits and 14 4-star recruits.
2. Protecting home turf
The LSU class got a big boost late in the afternoon when 5-star DT Maason Smith – the top player in Louisiana and the No. 2 DT in the country – signed with the Tigers.
Orgeron needs to rebuild the defensive line and Smith gives him an anchor in the middle that can help right away.
Smith said he chose the Tigers over Alabama, Georgia and Miami. He’s the highest-rated DT to sign with LSU since Al Woods in 2006.
LSU’s other 5-star signee is S Sage Ryan from Lafayette, La.
3. You can never have too many quarterbacks
LSU knows this as well as anyone.
Joe Burrow’s arrival in 2018 scared off Justin McMillan and Lowell Narcisse. Peter Parrish left during 2020, a season that began with just 1 quarterback (Myles Brennan) having taken a snap in a college game and none having started a college game.
LSU might look like it has depth at the position. Brennan can play 2 more seasons if he chooses to and freshmen TJ Finley and Max Johnson have shown promise.
But here comes 4-star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the No. 12 QB in the class.
He’ll arrive with 3 quarterbacks ahead of him.
But that can change quickly.
4. You can never have too many wide receivers
LSU knows this from first-hand experience too.
The Tigers had arguably the most prolific passing offense in NCAA history last season.
But Justin Jefferson left early for the NFL. Reigning Biletnikoff winner (Ja’Marr Chase) opted out before the season and the top remaining receiver (Terrace Marshall Jr.) opted out during the season. All of a sudden, LSU didn’t have enough receivers.
But the Tigers have several talented young receivers on this year’s team and they added 4 more who are 4-star recruits Wednesday.
The WR group suffered a blow, though, when JoJo Earle, the No. 5 receiver in the country, flipped from LSU to sign with Alabama late in the day. He joined edge rusher Keanu Koht as players the Tide flipped from LSU on Wednesday.
5. Don’t forget the offensive line
Orgeron didn’t, but he signed just 1 (4-star T Garrett Dellinger, the No. 14 tackle) on Wednesday.
The coach still has a few scholarships left and most are being held for offensive linemen.
JUCOs and other transfers will be strong candidates to get those remaining spots.
Orgeron and his staff still have a lot of work to do bolstering an offensive line that has been a weak spot this season.
Les East is a New Orleans-based football writer who covers LSU for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @Les_East.
