LSU signing day predictions for the class of 2014
LSU has the No. 4 class in the nation and third in the Southeastern Conference with 19 commitments, so they have six open scholarships to fill out a class of 25 and three five-star recruits are in the mix along with some high-profile four-star targets who would fill big needs.
Likely commitments
Malachi Dupre is the nation’s No. 2 wide receiver recruit and John Curtis (New Orleans, LA) standout has long been considered an LSU lean but Florida State looks to challenge LSU for the signature of the Under Armour All-American participant. He is the biggest target on the board for LSU and the single player they can ill afford to lose and I think they’ll be able to hold off the Seminoles and Bruins to land him.
Travonte Valentine is exactly what LSU needed at defensive tackle after missing out on Gerald Willis, so after Valentine decommitted from Miami, LSU swept in and made him a priority. A weekend visit at the end of January to Miami did little to curtail the wave of momentum for LSU landing the 338-pound four-star tackle.
Trey Lealaimatafao is a 6-0, 300-pound three-star defensive tackle and picked up his offer from LSU on Jan. 9 and was on campus after the dead period was lifted. His sister attends Southern University so that could be a big selling point for the San Antonio native. He will pick either the Oregon Ducks or LSU with both sides feeling confident, but I’m picking the Tigers.
Derrick Kelly is a 6-5, 295-pound three-star offensive tackle entered the picture in December when LSU focused on adding an offensive tackle to their class that features two standout guards, but no tackles. After visiting LSU in late January it appeared like Kelly wanted to be a Tiger, but the Havana, Fla native may have reversed course and this appears to be a relative coin flip.
Flip Candidates
Sione Teuhema: Currently committed to the Texas Longhorns, the three-star defensive end from Keller, TX visited LSU with his brother Maea Teuhema, a Texas commit and a five-star offensive tackle in the class of 2015 and Sione flips which looks to be
Emmanuel Porter: The 6-5 three-star receiver decommitted from Texas and quickly committed to TCU but after a January visit to LSU there is a slimmer of hope LSU can flip him.
Likely signing elsewhere
Kenny Young: The high school teammate of Dupre looks like he could be headed out of state to UCLA or Texas A&M after officials to both places went great. LSU would love to keep the No. 7 inside linebacker and four-star recruit close to home, but he appears set on leaving the state.
Adoree Jackson: LSU made the final four for the nation’s top uncommitted recruit who will choose from USC, UCLA and Florida in addition to LSU at 1:05 p.m. CT on Feb. 5. USC and Florida have been perceived as his leaders, but LSU coaches have been pulling out all the stops with Jackson who could be a starter from Day 1. This would be a major coup if LSU reels him in, but I think he’s headed to USC.
Lorenzo Carter: The five-star defensive end is one of the top edge rushers in the nation in the mold of former Tiger Barkevious Mingo and after a successful in-home visit in December and official in January that really impressed the 6-5, 232-pound end. However, this would be a big upset if he chooses anyone other than the Georgia Bulldogs.
If LSU is successful in landing Dupre and the other five players I have headed to LSU it will be a productive day for LSU and one which could move them up to the No. 2 class in the country.