Where LSU Turns Now After 4-Star QB Feleipe Franks' Decommitment
It happened.
LSU fans hoped the rumors wouldn't become reality, but Monday evening, 4-star quarterback Feleipe Franks announced via Twitter that he decommitted from LSU. Franks' tweet implied that the decommitment was coming; it was just a matter of when.
"— Feleipe Franks (@18franks) November 24, 2015"
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So what now for LSU?
Great question.
LSU is now without a quarterback pledge in their 2016 class, and with Franks' decommitment, LSU's class dropped from the top spot to No. 2 nationally, behind Ohio State, in the updated 247Sports team rankings. The Tigers, however, have way more to think about than finishing with the nation's top-ranked class.
Franks was expected to compete for a starting spot next year. The Tigers have Brandon Harris, Anthony Jennings and Justin McMillan on the depth chart, but with the team's issues on offense the last three weeks, Tigers fans are looking for a shot in the arm.
Franks could have been that shot in the arm. Not anymore.
According to 247Sports, LSU has offered seven quarterbacks, Franks included, in the 2016 class and three quarterbacks in the 2017 class. The six other 2016 quarterbacks offered have all committed elsewhere. However, as it often said in recruiting, verbal commitments are nonbinding.
It's all about getting that signature on a national letter of intent in February. This means LSU will have an opportunity to do two things: either flip one of the already committed quarterbacks or find a diamond in the rough within the class.
Don't expect 5-star Shea Patterson to waver from his commitment to Ole Miss. Same can be said about 4-stars Dwayne Haskins (Maryland), Brandon Peters (Michigan) or Jarrett Guarantano (Tennessee).
Jawon Pass and Avery McCall are committed to Louisville and Coastal Carolina, respectively. Pass, who competed at the Elite 11 finals in Oregon, was one of the last quarterbacks of the Elite 11 participants to verbally commit. Pass' top three before his decision were Louisville, Alabama and Auburn, but part of that may have been because Franks already was committed to LSU. Franks committed to LSU before the start of his junior year in June of 2014.
Pass is a 6'5", 220-pound, 4-star dual-threat option and a player with a lot of upside. McCall is more compact at 6'1" and 195 pounds, built like a running back with a quarterback's arm. He surprised people when he committed to Coastal Carolina in September. He had offers from LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina State.
A 3-star, dual-threat option, McCall could be one to watch, but it also depends on if he wants to play Power Five football. Coastal Carolina currently plays FCS ball but will join the Sun Belt Conference in June 2016 and will play its first full Sun Belt schedule in 2017.
The LSU coaches also could venture into the junior college ranks for a quarterback. Coffeyville Community College's Riley Ferguson, a former Tennessee signee, is the nation's top-ranked overall JUCO quarterback and an overall top-20 JUCO player. Lackawanna College's Andrew Ford, a former Virginia Tech signee, is ranked No. 3 among JUCO pro-style quarterbacks. If the Tigers want a dual-threat passer, Arizona Western College's Trent Hosick, a former Missouri signee, is the top-ranked player at the position.
The Tigers will have their options to replace Franks in the 2016 class, but the work is definitely there to be done.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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