LSU National Signing Day 2016: 5 Takeaways from Tigers' Class

Remember back in November when rumors were rampant that the LSU Tigers wanted to fire head football coach Les Miles? Well, that feels like a distant memory now that LSU has signed the nation's No. 3-ranked recruiting class in 2016.

The Tigers loaded up, signing six of the country's top 100 players, including defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Monroe, Louisiana, and cornerback Kristian Fulton of Metairie, Louisiana—both 5-star prospects.

LSU addressed multiple needs in this balanced class, specifically along the defensive line.

Overall, national signing day was great for the Tigers, but there were a couple of disappointments.

Linebacker Erick Fowler, a 4-star verbal commitment from Manor, Texas, backed out of his pledge to the Tigers and signed with Texas. Also, cornerback Trayvon Mullen picked Clemson over LSU in a bit of a surprise.

So, who is LSU's next breakout star?

Here are five takeaways from LSU's 2016 recruiting class.

Les Miles Can Flat-Out Recruit

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

LSU head coach Les Miles

Athletic director Joe Alleva led the charge to oust Miles late in the 2015 season, only to discover it was too costly to part with him.

Fortunately for Alleva and LSU, Miles stayed, and his recruiting acumen paid huge dividends for the Tigers.

What makes LSU's outstanding class even more impressive is all of the uncertainty surrounding Miles and his staff. Not only was Miles on the hot seat, he's also cycled through three defensive coordinators in the past three seasons after a highly successful six-year stint by John Chavis.

Regardless of the whispers surrounding his job security, Miles hit the road and kept the Tigers well-positioned for the next few years with a terrific class.

According to Lawrence, per Julie Boudwin of NOLA.com, Miles' presence was crucial in him selecting LSU.

"It was very important (LSU kept Les Miles). I think Coach Miles is a great guy," he said. "The players love playing for him. To see him not there would be [a] completely different program. I'm glad he stayed because it did help my process and probably other kids around the nation. I'm glad he stayed."

LSU Gets a Quarterback

Many LSU fans wanted the Tigers to sign a quarterback for the Class of 2016. The Tigers did that with 3-star quarterback Lindsey Scott of Zachary, Louisiana.

Tiger fans were realistically hoping for a little more.

Miles swung and missed on some of the nation's elite prospects at the position. Shea Patterson, Feleipe Franks and Dwayne Haskins were all LSU targets but chose to sign elsewhere.

Scott is another dual-threat passer in the mold of current starter Brandon Harris. Harris has had his share of issues, but a big problem for LSU is offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Cameron prefers to run a pro-style offense and doesn't adjust his style of coaching to fit his players.

Scott's biggest issue could be his size (5'11", 205 lbs). He's built more like a running back than a quarterback.

While some may not like Scott's size, he displays the ability to make most of the necessary throws. His arm is strong, he throws well on the run, and he is an elusive runner. With some time to sit, Scott could develop into a starter for LSU down the road.

Overall, LSU fans will be probably disappointed that the Tigers didn't get one of the elite recruits at the position. However, Scott had a terrific season playing in Louisiana's rugged 5A level and is a promising prospect.

The Defense Should Stay Elite for a While

Beefing up the defensive front was clearly a priority for the Tigers in the Class of 2016. The past two recruiting classes yielded primarily disappointing results outside of Arden Key and Davon Godchaux.

And, boy, did LSU beef up its defensive front.

Lawrence is the headliner. The 6'3", 305-pound defensive tackle possesses the size and strength to play immediately for the Tigers. He has shown the ability to easily beat double-teams with not only his strength and explosiveness but good technique, too.

He's not all.

Defensive tackles Edwin Alexander and Glen Logan, defensive ends Rahssan Thornton and Andre Anthony, and linebacker Michael Divinity are among the top talents who could become stars for LSU.

Divinity is one of the more underrated linebacker prospects in the country. He's a complete player who can take on blockers, excel in coverage and rush the passer. His biggest issue is needing to add bulk to his 6'2", 218-pound frame.

The secondary received a boost in talent, too.

LSU consistently produces NFL talent in the secondary, and this group—led by Fulton—looks to continue that tradition.

Fulton has a lean frame (6'0", 177 lbs) but shows a willingness to take on ball-carriers. He excels in man coverage and can flip his hips to run with receivers.

The Tigers Dominated the State of Louisiana

It was a fantastic year for talent in the state of Louisiana, and the state's flagship program took full advantage.

Of the state's top 10 players, nine chose to play at LSU. Only cornerback Shyheim Carter chose to go outside of the state, ending up at Alabama. It's important to note that Carter had committed to the Crimson Tide in 2014 but backed out of his pledge last summer. He was going to be a tough one for Miles and the Tigers to sign.

Lawrence, Fulton and Divinity are the headliners among a group that includes two 5-star recruits (Fulton and Lawrence) and seven 4-star signees among the state's top 10. Overall, the Tigers signed 11 4-star players from the state of Louisiana.

Lawrence, Divinity and Fulton are players who could make an impact this fall. Divinity enrolled in January, which should help him get some time in the weight program this spring.

The Tigers Loaded Up on Big Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham Jr. has taken the nation by storm over the last two years with his insane one-handed catches and freakish athleticism.

See: here.

Jarvis Landry is pretty good, too.

Those players have helped shine a spotlight on LSU and its wide receivers. In the Class of 2016, the Tigers landed a trio of promising—and big—wide receivers.

Drake Davis, Dee Anderson and Stephen Sullivan are all at least 6'4".

Davis (6'4", 215 lbs) is the most explosive of the trio. He shows the potential to beat defenders deep and is a tough matchup at the line of scrimmage. Davis attacks the ball and catches it at its highest point. He has also shown the ability to take a short pass the distance.

Anderson (6'5", 205 lbs) and Sullivan (6'5", 230 lbs) are both similar talents. Sullivan boasts impressive speed and will need to work on his route running at the next level.

Anderson is raw but arguably has the most potential from this trio. He is excellent on vertical routes with tremendous top-end speed and a huge catch radius.

The Tigers return another pair of talented pass-catchers in 2016—Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural—so there is no pressure on any of these receivers to contribute immediately.

Instead of calling LSU "DBU," it may be time to start calling the Tigers "Wide Receiver U."

All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.

Bryan Manning covers college football for the Bleacher Report, and you can follow him on Twitter @bdmanning4.