Roots of LSU, Alabama recruiting rivalry run back to Saban

Alabama's Nick Saban (left) and LSU's Les Miles are fighting to land the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. Chris Graythen/Getty Images Stewart Mandel's Mailbag Submit a question or an opinion to Stewart. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Stewart Mandel on Twitter

What happens when one coach creates two recruiting monsters in the same division of the same conference?

We may find out Wednesday.

On the eve of National Signing Day, LSU stands in the best shape to land the nation's top-rated class for 2009, based on the Rivals.com standings. The Tigers have been a near-fixture at the top of the recruiting rankings ever since Nick Saban arrived at LSU at the start of this decade, and Les Miles has continued the school's dominance, particularly in the state of Louisiana.

However, one notable competitor has a decent chance of unseating LSU when all is said and done: Saban's current team, Alabama.

"I think it's going to be one of those two," Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said. "Potentially, 'Bama could close with five to 10 more guys, believe it or not. And they're all announcing on Signing Day."

Not surprisingly, considering the two programs practically share a border and both have the clout to go after the very best players in their region, many of those five to 10 guys will be choosing between LSU and Alabama, or have the two among their finalists. Chief among them: Rivals' No. 2 overall prospect, receiver Rueben Randle (Bastrop, La.). Most observers expect Randle will choose the in-state Tigers over the Crimson Tide and the Oklahoma Sooners, but he hasn't said much publicly.

The two rivals are also engaged in a heated battle over No. 6 Trent Richardson, a running back from Pensacola, Fla., who committed to Alabama last June but has taken official visits the past three weekends to Florida, LSU and Florida State. Similarly, last weekend Alabama hosted longstanding LSU commit and No. 17 prospect Janzen Jackson, a defensive back from Lake Charles, La., though Jackson told Rivals.com the visit did not sway him. Four-star defensive end Ed Stinson (Homestead, Fla.) chose 'Bama over LSU last Friday.

Other notables who remain on both teams' boards: Four-star defensive tackle Darrington Sentimore (Destrehan, La.), an Alabama commit to whom LSU is making a late pitch; four-star receiver Kendall Kelly (Gadsden, Ala.); four-star linebacker Barkevious Mingo (West Monroe, La.); and four-star defensive back Darren Myles (Atlanta).

Ohio State, Texas, USC and North Carolina also figure to finish with highly ranked classes, but LSU and Alabama have the most ground to gain due to the programs' involvement with so many high-profile prospects who are waiting until the last possible moment to announce their final decisions.

For the Crimson Tide, who earned Rivals' No. 1 ranking last year, this is familiar territory.

"Alabama closed with a grand slam last year and are going to close with a grand slam again this year. And LSU is getting the national championship bump from what they did [in 2007]," Newberg said. "Before, it was the big three from Florida [that always finished strong]. The two teams that could make the most noise this year are 'Bama and LSU."

The teams' clash for Signing Day bragging rights is just the latest installment in an increasingly bitter rivalry that barely existed prior to Saban's arrival in Tuscaloosa a little more than two years ago.

While Alabama has intense, longstanding rivalries with Auburn and Tennessee, LSU had lacked a worthy nemesis for decades.

"LSU really no longer has a natural rivalry," said longtime LSU beat writer and columnist Glenn Guilbeau of Gannett News Service. "I would say Auburn was LSU's biggest rival before Saban went to 'Bama. It used to be Tulane in the old days, but Tulane has been mostly bad for a long time. Ole Miss was a true rival, but that also ended at about the time Archie Manning left. Arkansas is a packaged rivalry with a trophy and all, but it's not a rivalry."