How LSU's New Defensive Coaching Hires Will Impact Tigers Recruiting

An intriguing arms race for assistant coaches has erupted in the SEC this winter, and LSU took a turn stockpiling its staff earlier this week.

The program announced Wednesday that Les Miles landed longtime Alabama assistant Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator. Former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron also enters the mix, accepting a role as defensive line coach. 

The staff shuffle comes in the aftermath of defensive coordinator John Chavis' departure. "Chief" recently bolted for the same position at Texas A&M, creating a pivotal void.

Make no mistake, LSU lost an excellent coach and dynamic recruiter in Chavis. However, the Tigers handled this challenge well and move forward in good shape on the sidelines and recruiting trail. 

Steele played a pivotal role in Alabama's efforts to sign the nation's top-ranked classes in 2013 and 2014. The Crimson Tide appear primed for another No. 1 haul this February thanks in part to the work he put in while in Tuscaloosa. 

He takes over the helm of a talented Tigers defense that already welcomed 5-star cornerback Kevin Toliver to campus as an early enrollee. Current LSU standout commits also include 4-star defensive back Xavier Lewis and massive New Orleans defensive end Isaiah Washington.

Steele's attention instantly turns toward strengthening his attack with more talent, aided by another highly regarded recruiter in Orgeron. 

"The thing about recruiting is it's not one guy," Steele said during his introductory press conference, per Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com. "Now the head coach has a critical factor in that, obviously. But as far as assistants go, it's a team effort."

Credit: 247Sports

Steele and Orgeron have a chance to make immediate inroads with limited time remaining until national signing day, though the tandem is probably destined to make an even greater impact on the 2016 recruiting class.

Orgeron helped return USC to national prominence at the turn of the century, serving as an architect for one of the most star-studded rosters we've seen in college football. He was viewed as a strong recruiter during his tenure as head coach at Ole Miss, though highly rated classes ultimately failed to translate into consistent victories.

Following stints with Tennessee and the New Orleans Saints, Orgeron returned to USC in 2010. He eventually served as interim coach during the majority of the 2013 season, salvaging what seemed to be a lost year under Lane Kiffin with six wins in eight games.

Some felt he was snubbed by USC when the university hired Steve Sarkisian as head coach, but Orgeron is right back in his wheelhouse a year later. 

If things go well at LSU, he may not last long in Baton Rouge. Other schools are bound to view him as a potential program leader.

“I do believe I will be a head coach again. I do believe that,” Orgeron told Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer in October. “When that’s going to happen, I don’t know. Maybe it will be next year, maybe not. We’re going to keep all options open.”

Credit: 247Sports

For now, he's hard at work playing catch-up with Steele, who spent four seasons as head coach himself at Baylor. The national recruiting "dead period" ended at midnight Wednesday, sending them out on a mission.

They traveled to Edgewood Academy in Alabama on Thursday, spending time with 4-star defensive end Prince Tega Wanogho. The 6'8", 250-pound prospect came away impressed by the interaction. 

"I could tell that he really liked them, and Coach Orgeron definitely caught his attention," Edgewood coach Bobby Carr told Shea Dixon of 247Sports (subscription required). "He kept talking about (Orgeron) after they left. He told (Wanogho) that he was out of work for 13 months and was tired of being a grill master at his house."

The duo's message came across loud and clear, landing LSU a possible official visit as early as this weekend.

"I think LSU is definitely a school he's now looking at," Carr said.

Orgeron and Steele face perhaps their biggest test later this month, when coveted California cornerback Iman Marshall comes to campus for one of his four January official visits. A commitment from the 5-star prospect would give LSU the nation's top incoming duo in pass coverage, pairing him with Toliver.

"Toliver is a great athlete, and he's very competitive like me," Marshall told Bleacher Report in August. "We could make some serious noise down there. LSU is known as 'DBU' for a reason. It's a place where I feel like I could really develop and polish my skills."

Though his comments came with a different coaching staff in place, Marshall—along with other top 2015 LSU targets—now has a limited window of time to weigh how he feels about the team's new additions. 

Given their respective track records, expect Orgeron and Steele to validate strong backgrounds on signing day and beyond.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.