LSU Football: LSU Adds TE Smith to Memorable 2013 Class

The date was Jan. 5 and the location was Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. Five-star defensive back recruit Landon Collins, who grew up in Geismar, LA, just over 20 miles south of where LSU is located, was set to make his college decision.

Being raised that close to a major SEC college football program and playing his high school ball practically in LSU's backyard, many believed that Collins was a lock to stay in-state and play for Les Miles and the Tigers.

But when Collins shocked LSU nation and instead announced his decision to attend SEC-rival Alabama, on national television non-the-less, it seemed like something came across Miles at that point.

LSU's head coach made it a point from there on out to make sure that he wasn't going to let any other top-notch in-state prospects get away.

On Monday afternoon, Miles and his LSU staff followed their plan and got a verbal commitment from another top in-state prospect when TE DeSean Smith, considered by many to be one of, if not the top tight end prospect in the nation, committed to the Tigers.

Smith is a four-star prospect out of Lake Charles, LA, which is about 125 miles west of Baton Rouge. Rivals.com ranks Smith as the No. 3 tight end prospect in the country and more notably, the No. 2 player in the state of Louisiana, trailing only DE Tim Williams, who also has LSU in his finalists.

Smith, who stands at 6'4", 225 pounds, hauled in 43 catches for 764 yards and seven touchdowns in his junior season at Barbe High School. He chose LSU over offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and Oklahoma.

Smith is the 18th commitment to what is shaping up to be a very impressive 2013 LSU recruiting class. He is the 11th in-state recruit, which is something that Miles has to be extremely pleased with.

Sixth months since Collins shunned the LSU football nation and chose Alabama on national television. Since that day, Miles has been on a mission, and he has a very impressive class thus far to show for it.

Now, can this class continue to grow and live up to expectations?

I sure like its chances.