LSU Football Recruiting: Tracking Targets for the 2013 Class

For the last several years, LSU has been a program that has remained national championship contenders and a lot of that has to do with fantastic recruiting. The Tigers are one of the few teams that don't have to rebuild, they just replace NFL talent with players that are similar.

The Tigers did miss out on a few top recruits last season, but still managed to land 24 talented prospects and filled several needs heading into the year. This season, the Tigers have already received early commitments from 12 recruits, including top players such as offensive lineman Ethan Pocic and safety John Diarse.

But with several other top recruits having the Tigers on their list, it would be foolish for Les Miles and company to stop now. Here are some of the latest updates on some of the top players that LSU is trying to add to its 2013 recruiting class.

Justin Manning

Latest Status: Considering LSU, Arkansas, Miami, USC and Oklahoma, among others.

Manning is a very powerful defensive tackle at 6'2", 275 pounds. He has a great combination of strength and athleticism, is a beast at rushing the passer and could possibly end up moving to the defensive end position.

The 5-star recruit is expected to make his decision sometime in December, but he already has checked out LSU and really enjoyed his visit a couple of months ago.

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“My favorite part of the weekend was just chilling with the defensive line, but I talked with Michael Brockers the most," Manning said. "He was a Texas kid and said LSU was a good school and a powerhouse, but it wasn't like anything else. He also said the SEC is the mini-NFL. If I can make it at LSU, then I could make it in the NFL." (Via Scout.com)

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Tahaan Goodman

Latest Status: Considering LSU, USC, Cal, Oklahoma and Washington, among others.

Goodman is a big safety at 6'2", 184 pounds and has terrific football instincts. He is great at closing in on the football, has a great combination of athleticism and physicality and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty in run support.

He is listed as one of the top safety prospects in this year's class and has already listed LSU one of the favorites for his services.

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"I really like the coaches there a lot," Goodman said of the Tigers. "I haven't been to the school, but I like what they produce. They're a DB (defensive backs) school. They get those guys to the next level. I like that aspect, how they're hyped and intense." (Via ESPN)

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There is no timetable for when the 4-star recruit will make a decision, but he has said LSU, UCLA and USC are the three schools that are recruiting him the hardest.

Stacy Coley

Latest Status: Considering Alabama, LSU, USC, Miami and Oregon, among others.

Coley is a 6'1" wide receiver that has decent speed and can become a deep threat the moment he steps on campus. He is a real thin receiver, but has as much upside as anyone in this class. Having over 30 offers, the 4-star wide receiver has recently trimmed down his list to 10 schools.

"Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Florida, Miami, Oregon, USC, and Tennessee," he said. "A top ten is the best I could do right now. I can't really separate number ten from 20 though." (Via Scout)

Coley is from Oakland Park, FL, but says that location will not play much of a factor in his decision, which he will make on national signing day.

Max Redfield

Latest Status: Considering LSU, USC, Oregon and Washington, among others.

Redfield is a very valuable player to top programs because he has the ability to play both sides of the ball. He can either play wide receiver or the safety position at the next level due to his great speed and terrific ball skills. He has great size at 6'2", 185 pounds and great playmaking ability.

Schools such as Oregon and USC are recruiting the 4-star safety extremely hard, but Redfield thinks highly of the LSU Tigers.

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“LSU has been producing the best DB’s in the country for the past five years. They always get a lot of exposure because they play in the SEC and always have really good DB’s come out of there. I feel like I’d have a good chance to make the NFL if I went there.” Redfield told Scout.com.

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He also named a top five and included the Tigers as one of the favorites in that list that included tons of schools.

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“Yeah, I have five leaders probably: it would be USC, Oregon, Notre Dame, LSU, Washington and California...It’s not in any particular order, but Oregon, USC and LSU are probably the top three that are above the rest.” Redfield told Scout.com.

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This is a battle that could get real interesting over the next couple of months.

Priest Willis

Latest Status: Considering USC, UCLA, LSU, Nebraska and Arizona State, among others.

Willis is a very physical safety at 6'2", 190 pounds. He is a sure tackler, is excellent at jamming receivers and can also play the cornerback position as well. He is the type of player that would fit in perfectly with this already talented LSU defense.

Considering he is from the West Coast, schools such as USC and UCLA are real high on his list, but he is also looking at LSU and plans to visit the school soon.

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"I want to see some new places that I’ve never been before. LSU and Nebraska are two schools Tahaan and I are visiting and I really want to check out Notre Dame too. After that, I really don’t know, there are so many good schools I wish I could take more than five official visits." Willis told Scout.com.

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There likely won't be a decision anytime soon from the 5-star prospect, but the Tigers should remain in the hunt until the very end.

Robert Nkemdiche

Latest Status: Considering LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia and Georgia Tech, among others.

While Nkemdiche has offers from nearly every school in the country, there are only a few that are to be considered serious contenders. Bleacher Report says that the top two favorites are the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers.

The 5-star defensive end has already checked out LSU and says he likes what he saw from his first trip.

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"It was my first time at LSU and I had a real good time there. I met the coaches and the players and I could really see myself fitting in there. I feel like I fit in the system they run well, I like how I got along with everyone, and they have great history on the defensive line." (Via Scout.com)

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It's really only a matter of time before we hear where the nation's top defensive end ends up. At 6'4", 268 pounds Nkemdiche is a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. He has the ability to play inside or outside, and his athleticism makes him another player that the offensive line must be aware of at all times.

Laremy Tunsil

Latest Status: Considering LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Florida, among others.

The nation's top offensive lineman won't make his decision until national signing day, but he already has a good idea of the schools he prefers. Along with schools like Alabama and Florida, Tunsil also likes the LSU Tigers.

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"Brick Haley is the coach recruiting me for LSU and I have not heard from him in a minute. I need to call him and see what is going on. I have always liked LSU because I have family there. I also like their playbook and their style of play." Tunsil told Scout.com.

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Tunsil has great size at 6'6", 295 pounds, long arms and terrific footwork. He would be another big pickup for a team that already has one of the best offensive lines in the country.