LSU Football Recruiting 2017: 5 must-have recruits for Tigers

• High School: Starkville
• Composite Rankings: No. 73 overall, No. 3 OLB

Initially, it appeared as if the Ole Miss Rebels had stole a top-end recruit right from under the nose of their in-state rivals, Mississippi State, when Willie Gay out of Starkville committed. However, he then changed his mind and re-opened his recruiting with LSU now heavily involved and seemingly in the driver’s seat to sign the fantastically talented linebacker.

For a program like LSU that has made a habit of producing defensive stars, Gay has all of the potential necessary to become one for the next class of players. When you watch his tape, his explosion and athleticism are simply incredible. If you watched Tim Williams as a pass rushing specialist for Alabama this past season and how he shot into opposing backfields like a missile, Gay shows similar traits in high school with how he disrupts opposing offenses.

Unlike Williams, though, Gay also boasts the physical tools and ability to drop back and be effective in coverage in the middle of the field. He doesn’t have the skills of a lockdown cornerback by any stretch, but he’s more than effective and capable of shutting down opposing tight ends and protecting the middle of the field.

Landing Gay would obviously be big for the Tigers simply in terms of talent. But as mentioned when talking about Collins, being able to take him from the clutches of two SEC schools, the aforementioned Ole Miss and Mississippi State, would be a great statement from Orgeron and his first go-round in recruiting.