National Signing Day 2018: 5 players who will make an immediate impact

High School: American Heritage; Ft. Lauderdale, FL

247 Sports Composite Rankings: 6 overall, No. 1 CB

The highest ranked player on our list, Patrick Surtain, Jr., sits sixth overall on the 247Sports Composite and first among cornerback recruits, and in fact is one of the top cornerback recruits since the recruiting services began their rankings. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 199 pounds, he has the size to play from Day 1 and has the talent to be a star. Surtain is fast (he was clocked in the 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash), and also excels in coverage, both in man and zone, with solid ball skills. His overall skillset compares well to former Alabama standout Minkah Fitzpatrick, who played a variety of positions for Nick Saban.

Surtain, the No. 2 player from Florida in the class and the son of former NFL All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain, is expected to sign with LSU – though the Crimson Tide (which reportedly interviewed the elder Surtain for a position on its coaching staff) and Florida State are still in the mix. Surtain was a U.S. Army All-American, and LSU could desperately use him in the secondary in 2018.

The Tigers rank No. 121 in returning production on defense (57 percent) according to Connelly. Though there is plenty of talent on the unit, including the top three tacklers from last year’s team – linebacker Devin White and safeties John Battle and Grant Delpit – as well as freshman All-American cornerback Greedy Williams, corners Donte Jackson and Kevin Toliver II opted to leave Baton Rouge a year early to enter the NFL Draft.

Next: NSD 2018: Top 10 recruiting classes entering Signing Day

LSU has a long history of inserting true freshmen into the lineup, and assuming Ed Orgeron secures his signature, Surtain should become the next instant impact defensive back for the Tigers.