Tigers prowling on the recruiting trail

When it comes to college football recruiting, LSU is a team that should always do well -- all the Tigers have to do is defend their home turf.

Louisiana is one of the most underrated states when it comes to high school talent, and within the state, LSU has to fight only Tulane over recruits. But with almost every major out-of-state power eyeing Bayou prep talent, there's plenty of competition.

When LSU does control the state’s top players, it's guaranteed to be a force. Such is the case this season for Nick Saban and his Tigers. Currently, they are ranked No. 2 in TheInsiders.com National Team Rankings. They have a super blend of in- and out-of-state prospects headed to Baton Rouge.

LSU is arguably bringing in the nation’s best set of quarterbacks. Matthew Flynn and Robert Lane already have committed, and they are two of the nation’s finest.

Lane, ranked No. 5 in the country, is from Monroe (La.) Neville High School. He has all the tools to be an outstanding college signal caller: size, arm strength, leadership, athletic ability and intelligence. But will he ever suit up at LSU? Lane is projected to be a high pick in June’s Major League Baseball Draft. Lane continues to say he will play football this fall, but there will be an awful lot of money to turn down this summer. Stay tuned.

Flynn, from Tyler (Texas) Lee High School, is ranked No. 16 among the nation’s quarterbacks.

The Tigers are still hot on the prowl for JaMarcus Russell, the nation’s third-ranked quarterback. Russell, from Mobile (Ala.) Williamson High School, will choose either Florida State or LSU on Signing Day. He visits the Seminoles this weekend (Jan. 25) and the Tigers on the final visit weekend (Feb. 1). Sources say he is headed to LSU, even though Lane and Flynn already committed to coach Saban. FSU does not have a quarterback commit to date. This one is going to be a battle.

Louisiana’s top running back prospect is Alley Broussard, and he committed to LSU back in April. Broussard, at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds, is a bruiser from Lafayette (La.) Acadiana High School.

Barrington Edwards, another big back from Bowie (Md.), also has committed to LSU. Edwards, at 6-0 and 211 pounds, is the No. 5-ranked running back in the country and Brossard is No. 12. Daniel Francis is an in-state running back who committed as well, and LSU nabbed a very good fullback out of the Lone Star State in Shawn Jordan.

On the wide receiver front, LSU pulled one of the top prospects from Florida in Anthony Hill. Hill, from Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast High School, is good enough to possibly see extensive action as a true freshman. He committed to LSU last week over FSU, Tennessee and Florida. That’s a great get for Saban and company.

Looking ahead, LSU is a finalist for wide receiver Mark Bradford from California and the explosive Andre Caldwell visits this weekend. The Tigers are likely the team to beat for Craig Davis, a super wideout from New Orleans as well as Emmanual Harrell from Georgia.

LSU is also in the mix for Dwayne Bowe from Miami, but it looks as if he'll stay home and sign with the Hurricanes. On the tight end front, Keith Alleger from Leesville, La., has already committed to the Tigers, and he is one of the South’s top prospects at that position.

Jerry Sevin is one of the nation’s strongest prospects, and this offensive lineman from River Ridge (La.) John Curtis is headed to Baton Rouge. Sevin comes highly regarded and could play guard or center at LSU. Joining him on the offensive line is Will Arnold from Centreville, Miss.

Defensive line is the one big position to keep a close eye on, as four All-America caliber ends and tackles will make their decisions in the next week or so. All the prospects are from Louisiana and, yes, LSU has a great shot at each one.

Defensive tackle teammates Carnell Stewart and Ryan Watson, from John Curtis High School are both high on LSU, while defensive end teammates from Reserve East St. John’s High School, Kirston Pittman and Vegas Franklin, love LSU, too.

It will be a battle for each one of these prospects, as LSU is fighting all the Florida schools, Tennessee, Colorado and others to get their signatures. A third in-state defensive end to watch for with LSU is Dominic Cooper from New Orleans. Other names to keep a close eye on with LSU are Tim Washington from Texas and Johnny Dingle from Florida.

LSU already has two standout defensive tackle commits in Jarrod Carter from River Ridge, La., and Sean Merrill from D’Iberville, Miss. The Tigers beat Florida earlier this summer for Carter and they just beat out Ole Miss in a bitter border war for Merrill.

At the linebacker position, LSU should get some immediate help next season from juco standouts Ben Henderson and Kenny Hollis. At the high school level, they are still hot after Ali Highsmith from Miami (Fla.) Central and Brannon Jackson, from Lake Charles (La.) Washington-Marion.

LSU's incoming secondary is looking strong as well. Already committed to LSU are safety standout Jesse Daniel and cover corners Nick Child and Jonathan Zenon. They are all big-time prospects from Louisiana.

LSU would love to sign one more safety; three possibilities are Reggie Nelson, Daryl Johnson and LaRon Landry. Nelson, from Melbourne (Fla.) Palm Bay High School, likely will stay in-state, while LSU has to fend off Miami and Florida for Landry. Landry is a key recruit from Hahnville (La.) Boutte. Johnson is a standout from New Orleans, who could end up leaving the state.

Visiting LSU this weekend is Mississippi’s top-rated prospect, super DB Quinton Culberson from Jackson Provine. Culberson says he is open between LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida and Southern Miss. Also visiting this weekend is Calvin Roberts, an underrated safety from Port Arthur, Texas, and cornerback Chad Green, from Van Huys, Calif. Both prospects favor the Tigers.

Even the LSU special teams is getting a big boost with the commitments from punter Patrick Fisher and kicker Chris Jackson.

The bottom line is this: Nick Saban is once again putting together a stellar recruiting class. It is a great blend of Louisiana players and big-time, out-of-state prospects. The strategy is not where you fall in the rankings but getting speed, need and balance. And across the board, LSU has succeeded on all three benchmarks.

Big-name linebacker stays in Maryland

Another big-name commitment popped in Wesley Jefferson. The hard-hitting middle linebacker from Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park decided to stay home and commit to Maryland.

"There are several main reasons why I picked them over Ohio State and Miami,” Jefferson said. “First of all, it is the best opportunity for me. I also love the people there and it is close to home. Another big factor is the program. They are headed in a completely different direction now with coach [Ralph] Friedgen.

"Two years ago, I thought I was going to have to leave the state. No way now. E.J. [Henderson] also influenced my decision because we are very similar players, although I have a long way to go before you can mention me with him. But with him moving on to the NFL, I should have a chance to compete to play. This feels great!"

Jefferson, at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, recorded 144 tackles and 13 sacks this season. He is the top middle linebacker prospect (and No. 2 linebacker) in the nation and is ranked No. 7 overall by TheInsiders.com. Jefferson is a ferocious hitter who is aggressive, fast and physically dominating. He is a sideline-to-sideline guy whose motor is always running.

-- Jamie Newberg, TheInsidersRecruiting.com

Big visit looms for five-star linebacker

Webster (Fla.) South Sumter standout linebacker Earl Everett has been extremely busy in recent weeks.

"I have no idea why it had to be me," Everett joked. "I never thought I'd be in a position where I'm getting so much attention. It makes it really busy around here."

Everett, at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, has an occasional escape from all the pressure -- basketball season.

"Basketball takes my mind off of recruiting and just allows me to have fun," he said. "I like to compete, have fun, and just hang out with my teammates."

Everett actually had a game Wednesday, one that had some interested viewers -- Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden, Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and Florida linebackers coach Bill Miller were among them.

"They were just watching me play because they made visits to the house tonight," he said just seconds after Bowden had walked out the door. "They were just all telling me how much they wanted me and talking about different stuff about their programs."

The standout linebacker met with Miami coaches Vernon Hargreaves and Randy Shannon on Monday.

"They came by and talked," he said. "They're real cool, I like those guys. They're real with me. We talked about the visit this weekend, how I fit into their plans, and just talking about what they need to do in order for me to come play for them."

So is Everett interested in playing for Shannon and Hargreaves in Coral Gables?

"Oh, I'm very interested," he said. "Even with coach Bowden telling me stuff, I'm down to two, and they are Miami and Florida. I'm trying to concentrate on those two right now."

Everett said he's actually starting to get closer and closer to a decision. "I've learned a lot the last couple weeks," he said. "[Florida head] coach Ron Zook was here last Tuesday and [Miami head] coach [Larry] Coker was here last Wednesday. Then all the assistants stopped by the house this week.

"Basically I'm getting to know them on a personal level. I've been learning more about the academic situation at each one and more about the football aspect like how much I will be able to play early on. I know more about what I might do now than I did a couple weeks ago."

Everett will take one final official visit -- to Miami -- before sitting down with his parents and grandmother to make a final decision. "We're driving down on Friday," he said. "My mom had to work when the Miami coaches came by here yesterday so she couldn't be here. But she said she's ready for our visit."

So what is Mom thinking at this point about her son's decision-making process? "She likes both of them," he said of the 'Canes and Gators. "Of course she'd like me to stay closer to home, but she said it doesn't matter a bit. She just wants to see me happy and she'll come see me play wherever I go."

Everett said he'll start to really think things over after he returns from Miami. "Hopefully this visit will give me a real good idea about everything," he said. "I want to see how I fit in with the players and the area. The good thing is that I've already met a bunch of the guys that will be on the visit with me. I want to hang out with that boy Bryan [Pata]. He cracks me up. He's a real cool dude. I think Joe Cohen is supposed to be out there, too, and also Glenn Cook and Ali Highsmith. It should be fun and I'll also get to hang out with some of the players there now to see what they're like."

Everett said he still expects to wait until Signing Day to make an announcement. "Even if I know, I'm probably going to wait," he said. "I've waited this long so I might as well wait until the 5th. I don't have a whole lot of time left, but I think I'll know a lot more after I get back from Miami."

-- Mike Bakas, TheInsiders.com

Top running back holds back decision

LeRon McClain was on the verge of recommitting to Alabama earlier in the week, but it looks like he is going to hold off on any official announcement until he is done with his visits.

"I held off for a little while longer," said McClain. "I'm probably going to take the rest of my visits now. I'm going to Mississippi State this weekend, and I'm either going to UAB or Tennessee on the 31st. Coach [Woody] McCorvey from Tennessee was at school to see me today, and I may go up there for a visit now."

-- Scott Kennedy, BorderWars.com

Parents make a difference for Stockton RB

"I committed to San Diego State over Oregon," Hamilton said. "It basically came down to what my parents wanted versus what I wanted. They really liked SDSU a lot, so that's where I'm going.

"Oregon had been my first choice for a long time and we've been going back and forth on this for over a week. I've even been praying asking God to open their eyes to what I think is best for me, but they're pretty set in their ways. Don't get me wrong, SDSU is a fine school and I'm sure I'll be happy there. It's a nice area and I'll have a chance to start as a true freshman.

"Plus, they run a one-back offense and that fits my style of running really well. I have nothing against the school. It's just not where I want to go. Oregon came by yesterday and I had to tell them I was going somewhere else. They told me they weren't going to give up on me and said they would hold a scholarship for me, but I think this is all over."

But why did he decide to announce now if he wasn't totally comfortable with the decision?

"I didn't want the other schools to have to wait on me any longer," Hamilton said. "That wasn't fair to them. All the talking in the world wasn't going to change my parents minds, so there was no use in waiting. This way they can move on and go after other running backs. As for me, I plan on getting myself physically and mentally ready for college. It still hasn't sunk in yet that I won't be going to Oregon. I felt that was the perfect fit for me, but what's done is done and I'll have to get on with my life and just do the best I can at San Diego State."

-- Greg Biggins, PacWestFootball.com

Top Tennesseean makes a commitment

Daniel Brooks is one of the top linebackers in the South. He is a member of the BorderWars.com 101 Team. He had been struggling between Tennessee, Ole Miss and Alabama, but now his decision has been made.

"I committed to Tennessee today," said Brooks. "They were the school I felt most comfortable with, even though I really liked Alabama and Ole Miss. [Head] coach [Phil] Fulmer was here at my house yesterday, and my quarterback [Bo Hardegree] and I both committed. I'm not taking any more visits or anything. I'm committed to Tennessee."

Tennessee's class is beginning to pick up steam after adding two four star players in the past two days.

-- Scott Kennedy, BorderWars.com

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