LSU Football: Catching Up with the Tigers' Newest Recruits

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Les Miles and his LSU coaching staff have been on a role lately.

The Tigers have received seven verbal commitments over the past month, including a big one this past weekend.

LSU has now received 17 commitments for their talented 2013 recruiting class, and there isn't any signs of slowing down. Miles and his staff are still actively pursing several 4- and 5-star talents as national signing day inches closer every day.

Of the Tigers' 17 commitments, 12 of them are ranked as 4-star prospects according to rivals.com. That right there has put LSU in position to have one of the top 2013 recruiting classes in the nation, and it's still early in the summer.

So, who are newly committed studs pledging to wear purple and gold in 2013?

Let's catch up with LSU's seven newest commitments—right here, right now!

Frank Herron

Photo courtesy of 247sports.com

Name: Frank Herron

Position: Defensive End

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee (Central High School)

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 245 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.7 seconds

Rivals.com ranking: 4 stars

The Lowdown: Herron was a huge score for the Tigers because when he arrives on campus in 2013, Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo will likely have already moved onto the NFL.

This kid is extremely athletic for his size and has great speed for a defensive end prospect. Herron recorded 57 tackles and seven sacks during his junior season at Central High.

A recent article by ESPNHSFootball said that he has looked dominant in summer camp, using his speed and strength to blow by opposing offensive lineman.

Herron chose LSU over other offers from Arkansas, Clemson, South Carolina and Tennessee, among others.

Anthony Jennings

Photo courtesy of 247sports.com

Name: Anthony Jennings

Position: Quarterback

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia (Marietta High School)

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 202 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.5 seconds

Rivals.com ranking: 4 stars

The Lowdown:Jennings' commitment came as somewhat of a surprise to the LSU faithful, but one that they will certainly embrace.

The 6'2" dual-threat quarterback committed to the Tigers just two weeks after LSU received a commitment from another 4-star quarterback, Hayden Rettig, from Los Angeles.

In Jennings, the Tigers are getting a guy who has great speed and can pass as well. In other words, he's everything that Les Miles and the LSU fanbase had hoped Jordan Jefferson would be.

Hopefully, for Jennings' sake, his career is much better.

Hayden Rettig

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Name: Hayden Rettig

Position: Quarterback

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA (Cathedral High School)

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 210 pounds

40-yard dash: N/A

Rivals.com ranking: 4 stars

The Lowdown: Rettig missed almost all of his junior season with a knee injury, but when healthy, this kid is one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation—hands down.

Rettig threw for more than 500 yards and six touchdowns in his first game last season but was diagnosed with a torn ACL in the second game of his junior campaign. Even so, college programs continued to knock on his door because they knew just how talented he was.

In the end, Miles and his LSU staff scooped up a kid who already has the body and skill set of a top-notch college football quarterback.

Retting has a strong arm and great accuracy. With the Tigers siding with a pro-style quarterback in Zach Mettenberger for the next two years, that should work out perfectly right as this highly touted kid comes to Baton Rouge in 2013.

The Tigers are expecting big things in the future from Hayden Rettig—and rightfully so.

Ethan Pocic

Photo courtesy of AUTigers.com

Name: Ethan Pocic

Position: Offensive Tackle

Hometown: Lemont, IL (Lemont High School)

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 285 pounds

40-yard dash: N/A

Rivals.com ranking: 4 stars

The Lowdown: Pocic is considered by many to be the most sought-after recruit in LSU's 2013 class thus far.

Pocic is big, strong and has an exceptional motor, which college coaches love to see with an offensive lineman. He's a dominant run blocker but also can hold his ground against some of the best defensive linemen around in pass-rush situations.

According to rivals.com., Pocic is ranked as the No. 36 prospect in the nation and the No. 3 offensive tackle. He chose LSU over offers from pretty much every major program in the nation, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC.

This kid has what it takes to be special at the next level.

Logan Stokes

Photo courtesy of 247sports.com

Name: Logan Stokes

Position: Tight End

Hometown: Boonesville, MS (Northeast Mississippi C.C.)

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 240 pounds

40-yard dash: N/A

Rivals.com ranking: 4 stars

The Lowdown: The Tigers have to address the tight end position in this class, and with no immediate answer coming from in-state, 4-star prospect DeSean Smith, the team can remain patient as they scooped up a commitment from Northeast Mississippi Community College transfer Logan Stokes.

Stokes is a solid player who is skilled in both pass blocking and catching the ball over the middle. He isn't likely to be a stud receiving option for this team, but with DeAngelo Peterson off to the NFL and Chase Clement and Tyler Edwards both entering their senior season, the Tigers are going to need to build depth at the tight end position.

That is where Stokes come into play.

Kennard Swanson

Photo courtesy of ESPN.com

Name: Kennard Swanson

Position: Fullback

Hometown: Lakeland, FL (Lake Gibson)

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 245 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.7 secs.

Rivals.com ranking: 3 stars

The Lowdown: I'm not sure it's possible for a fullback to score beyond 3 stars, so the fact that Swanson is even ranked that high lets you know what a talent this guy is.

According to rivals.com, Swanson is the No. 1-ranked fullback prospect in the country. He also stood out on the defensive side of the ball in high school, recording 46 tackles and 11 sacks during his junior year at Lake Gibson High School.

Swanson is a guy who can play all over the field, but it looks like LSU wants to develop him as their future fullback. In addition to his solid speed, Swanson is also able to bench press 250 pounds in addition to his 500-pound squat.

Swanson accepted an LSU offer while also being heavily recruited by USC, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Ole Miss.

Melvin Jones

Photo courtesy of 247sports.com

Name: Melvin Jones

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Lake Charles, LA (Washington-Marion)

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 246 pounds

40-yard dash: N/A

Rivals.com ranking: 4 Stars

The Lowdown: Jones is the most recent LSU commitment—and a big one at that.

The Tigers brought in a huge linebacker class in 2012 but appeared to shy away from that position early on in this 2013 class. Now, adding Jones gives them another big-time linebacker prospect who can man in the middle of this talented defense.

Jones is a playmaker, and with his speed and size combination, he should have no problem finding his niche in this LSU defense in the future. He plays both ways in high school, racking up more than 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns as a running back, while also recording 140 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries in just his junior season.

To give you an idea of just how talented this kid is, keep in mind that he committed to LSU with offers from the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

This kid is truly something special, and Tigers fans have to be chomping at the bit to get him in that LSU purple and gold.