As the final weekend of official visits approaches, the LSU Football team currently boasts the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class, according to On3. Despite not securing any commitments this summer, the Tigers are in a strong position with several top recruits after three weekends of official visits.
Recruiting Class Overview
The primary concern with LSU’s recruiting class so far is the imbalance between offensive and defensive talent. The class includes just three defensive recruits: Jaboree Antoine, Charles Ross, and Keylan Moses, all of whom are highly regarded. In contrast, the offensive side is loaded, largely due to early commitments from Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top recruit, and Harlem Berry, the top running back. The presence of superstars like Underwood and Berry has attracted additional offensive talent to LSU.
What LSU needs now is a defensive counterpart to Underwood and Berry to attract further defensive recruits.
Defensive Recruitment Prospects
Despite the current imbalance, LSU has positioned itself well to secure several top defensive prospects. DJ Pickett, who visited Baton Rouge during the first weekend, was highly impressed and now has LSU at the top of his list. However, Pickett’s commitment is not expected until October, which might be too late to influence other top recruits.
Last weekend, LSU made a strong impression on two-sport star Jonah Williams, although beating out Oklahoma for his commitment will be challenging. Top-100 recruit Damien Shanklin is set to commit in August, with LSU being the heavy favorite to lure him away from in-state Notre Dame. Additionally, Bo Davis has put LSU in a promising position to land top defensive tackles from Texas, though finalizing these commitments remains to be seen.
Rebuilding the Defense
Last season, LSU’s national championship-caliber offense was undermined by one of the worst defenses in recent memory. While changing defensive coordinators will be crucial, recruiting top talent is the most effective way to rebuild a championship-level defense. Historically, LSU has developed defensive talent into NFL players as well as any other school. This legacy, combined with the coaching prowess of Corey Raymond and Bo Davis, should make it easier to attract top defensive recruits.
LSU’s focus on securing top defensive talent in this recruiting cycle is essential for balancing their roster and returning to championship contention. As the recruiting season progresses, the Tigers are well-positioned to bolster their defensive lineup and build a more complete team for the 2024 campaign.
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