2009 Recruiting Recap

LSU closed out a difficult season with one hell of a recruiting class. Ranked #1 by some, and #2 by others, this 2009 recruiting class may prove to be as good or better than Saban’s best recruiting classes in 2001 and 2004. We shall see. As with every class, there is always a small handful that stands out. I’ve highlighted 5 of those players with asterisks, and given a little more detail on them below. I think all 5 of these guys have a good chance to eventually go in the first round of the draft.

Last week, the poll question asked what is more important, good players or good coaching. Most people agree that it’s the players that matter most. Good coaching gets the most production from each player, but you can’t make chicken salad from chicken crap. It’s no coincidence that the teams that consistently recruit the best players have the most championships. Get used to these new names, because you’ll hear them a lot over the next few years.

Michael Ford: Running Back

Voted as a Parade All-American, Ford finished his high school career with 20 straight games of 100+ yards. In his senior season, he had 9 games of 200+ yards. With 2,447 yards as a senior, he broke the single season rushing record at Leesville High, a record that was held by former LSU Tiger Cecil Collins.
He was hurt much of his junior year of high school, and only played in 3 games. As a result, he didn’t get as much national attention as he would have otherwise got.
If I had to compare him to another LSU running back, it would be Charles Scott. Both guys are very well rounded and smart. They both hit the hole very hard and never go down on first contact. Neither possesses amazing top end speed, but they have enough quickness to make people miss. I have all the confidence in the world that Michael Ford will be a great one. It will be very interesting to see if Ford receives a redshirt this year. I think he’s ready to play, but we have a lot of good talent at that position right now.

Craig Loston: Safety

This guy is a sure bet. As a Parade All-American, he was ranked as the #1 Safety prospect in the nation by several recruiting services. His natural ability is on the level of two other LSU defensive backs, Chad Jones and Patrick Peterson. He will need surgery on his wrist, so he may miss the beginning of the season.
The only downside is that he may not have enough smarts to be a leader in the defensive backfield. I’ll wait and see, but it’s not good that the guy is still struggling to get cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse. Although clearance is expected to happen in a few weeks, he has not been able to work out with the team this summer so that may set him back. Because of the injury and the bad grades, I would expect a redshirt for Loston.

Sam Montgomery: Defensive End

Each recruiting class has a few surprises. The surprise pick up of 2009 was Sam Montgomery out of South Carolina. Montgomery was an unexpected pick-up late in the recruiting season. No doubt that Chavis had something to do with this. He is a speedy defensive end with enough size and strength to play early. With the recent transfer of Sidell Corley, this is a position of need for LSU, and he will get playing time this year. By next year, he’ll probably be a starter. Quickness is crucial for the defensive end position, and he has a lot of it.

Rueben Randle: Wide Receiver

As the #1 wide receiver prospect in the country, RR made us sweat it out last recruiting season. He delayed his commitment until national signing day, and strongly considered the Crimson Tide of Alabama. In fact, Les Miles was put in a very difficult position, and was forced to rescind the scholarship offer to DeAngelo Benton to secure Randle. Benton ended up at Auburn, but I didn’t like the way that situation played out. RR, a Parade All-American and All-USA selection, is the best wide receiver prospect that LSU has had in a very long time, so I think the end justifies the means in this case. Randle is the one true freshman that I think will have the biggest impact on the 2009 season. He won’t make a Julio Jones type impact, but he will contribute a lot. He has great hands and great size. He is a very smooth and fluid runner and his speed is very deceptive (think Tyrell Pryor but faster). This guy is a 1st rounder if I’ve ever seen one.

Russell Shepard: QB/Ath

If you don’t already know who this guy is, then where in the hell have you been for the last year. Shepard, another Parade All-American, is the crown jewel of the 2009 class. All the things that they say about Shepard are true. He is lightning fast, shifty, elusive, and smart. He is a unique combination of Pat White (dual-threat QB), Tim Tebow (leadership), and Reggie Bush (quickness). He will play this year, but his position is unknown. He may have a limited QB package, but he’ll more than likely play as a slot receiver this season. Besides his extraordinary athleticism, his leadership abilities may be his most outstanding quality. As a high school senior, he took it upon himself to contact the best players in the country and recruit them to LSU. He had a major impact on several LSU recruits, including Craig Loston who is his cousin. He has an infectious confidence and a magnetic personality. He is the whole package and many consider him a once-in-a-decade recruit. Expectations couldn’t be higher for Mr. Shepard, no matter what position he plays. Wherever he ends up, he’s sure to break ankles for many years to come. He enrolled at LSU in January and took part in spring practice.

Some other signees that deserve honorable mentions are Barkevious Mingo and Chris Davenport on defense, and Chris Faulk and Chris Garrett on offense. Drayton Calhoun and Morris Claiborne may get an opportunity to return punts this season.

Who we lost out on:

DeAngelo Benton - Auburn
Janzen Jackson - Tennessee
Dexter Pratt – Oklahoma St.

Looking ahead to 2010:

The 2010 class is shaping up nicely. Currently, LSU has 21 commitments and is ranked as the #2 class in the nation. While I don’t expect LSU to hold on to this ranking through signing day, LSU will finish with a Top 10 class and maybe a Top 5 class if they can get a few of the big fish in the pond. 2010 is considered a down year for LA high school talent, so Miles & Co. have been pulling recruits from all over the southeast and midwest. Next year however, the LA talent is expected to be very, very deep and LSU should finish with yet another Top 3 class in 2011. The rich get richer in the world of recruiting.

Tiger Trivia: (answers at the bottom)

1. Who holds the school record for most passing yards in a single game? How many yards?
2. Who holds the school record for most rushing yards in a single game? How many yards?
3. Who is LSU’s all-time leading rusher with 4,557 yards?

Sorry for the late post. I've been having computer problems. Thanks to Jason Brakel, my one man IT department for helping my get my computer back online.

Upcoming Pre-season Samson Reports:

08-12-09: Coaching Changes
08-19-09: Depth Chart Review
08-26-09: 2009 Season Preview. Fall Practice Update

31 Days till The Battle in Seattle!!

Answers:

1. Rohan Davey (528 yards)
2. Alley Broussard (250 yards)
3. Kevin Faulk