(Updated) LSU Tigers Holding Fourth Ranked 2021 Recruiting Class Ahead of National Signing Day
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
2020 was a rough year for a lot of people, add LSU head coach Ed Orgeron to the list. The gruff leader of the Tigers did his best to maintain a roster hard-hit by early NFL Draft entrants with a big coaching staff turnover after an amazing 15-0 season in 2019. The mass exodus to the pros and opt-outs left LSU’s roster green on the vine struggling to a 5-5 season. But the one thing that has been consistent as Coach O’s gravely voice is his penchant for finding recruiting talent to bring to Baton Rouge.
In four full recruiting classes (2017-20), Coach Orgeron has only finished outside the Top 7 once. The anomaly came in 2019 seeing LSU dip to No. 15 a year after placing seventh in the nation. The banner raising season helped the Tigers leap back into the Top 5 placing fourth in the country with three five-stars, 13 four-stars, and six three-star talents. The 2021 class is shaping up much the same.
For LSU fans wondering when the next SEC West Divisional title may come, it may arrive sooner than later. The Tigers have three starting quarterbacks on the roster, returning offensive linemen, a deep backfield, and rising talent on the outside. Of the 22 players tied to the current class, 10 are slated to help score the ball in Death Valley adding depth to one of the SEC’s best in 2021.
The deepest part of LSU’s class is at receiver. Four have signed and one is already on campus. Mississippi four-star Deion Smith is getting a jump on the playbook ready to welcome fellow four-stars Chris Hilton, Malik Nabers, and Jack Bech. Preparing to take over in the pocket when the opportunity strikes, four-star Marcus High School (TX) gunslinger Garrett Nussmeier is already in Baton Rouge throwing passes.
Another deep area for LSU in this class, not in quantity but in quality, is at running back. The depth chart in the backfield gets even deeper with Armoni Goodwin out of Alabama and Corey Kiner from Ohio. The four-stars can create their own thunder and lightning duo with Goodwin being more the scatback.
The five-star with All-SEC potential is defensive tackle Maason Smith. Smith stayed in the Sportsman’s Paradise after tearing it up for Terrebonne High School. Other standouts in the defensive trenches includes Texas end Landon Jackson and Florida end Bryce Langston. Yet another four-star, end Savion Jones is a verbal commit expected to sign on National Signing Day.
Two future starters in the secondary ready to carry the Defensive Back University mantra forward are Derrick Davis Jr., rated the fourth-best safety in the nation, and Lafayette’s Sage Ryan, rated the second-best in the country. When Derek Stingley Jr. heads to the NFL, Damarius McGhee out of Pensacola Catholic will be groomed to take his place.
With 22 commitments, two to sign on National Signing Day, LSU could add more to the current haul potentially moving up from fourth in the nation while fending off fifth ranked Clemson.
Update: After National Signing Day, the Tigers added yet another four-star receiver to their roster in Brian Thomas Jr. on Feb. 9. Thomas (6-4, 190) had a breakout junior season securing 75 passes for 1,272 yards with 17 touchdowns. During his senior season with Walker High School (LA), he posted a 30-reception, 507-yard, 7-TD stat line during the Wildcats’ 2-8 campaign.
Thomas jumped past 15 other offers from top programs like Alabama, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas to sign with LSU. Per 247/Sports, Thomas is considered the ninth best receiver in the 2021 class.
LSU’s 2021 Class has jumped ahead of Georgia’s taking over third place in the team recruiting rankings with two five-stars, 16 four-stars, and five three-star players.
Photo credit: Nussmeier family; Garrett Nussmeier at LSU (2019)